•TORY  LOVER 


RAH-ORNEJEWETT 


(* 

& 


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HOUGHTON,  MIFFLIN  AND  COMPANY 

BOSTON  AND  NEW  YORK 


THE  TORY  LOYEB 


BY 


SARAH  ORNE  JEWETT 


BOSTON  AND  NEW  YORK 
HOUGHTON,  MIFFLIN  AND  COMPANY 


1901 


COPYRIGHT,    1901,    BY   SARAH    ORNE   JEWETT 

AND    HOUGHTON,    MIFFLIN    &   CO. 

ALL    RIGHTS    RESERVED. 


/"Jo/ 


TO 

T.  J.  B. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.  THE  SEA-WOLF 1 

II.  THE  PARTING  FEAST 7 

III.  A  CHARACTER  OF  HONOR 23 

IV.  THE  FLOWERING  OF  WHOSE  FACE  ....  28 
V.  THE  CHALLENGE 32 

VI.  THE  CAPTAIN  SPEAKS 40 

VII.  THE  SAILING  OF  THE  RANGER  .  .  .  .53 

VIII.  THE  MAJOR'S  HOSPITALITIES 59 

IX.  BROTHER  AND  SISTER 68 

X.  AGAINST  WIND  AND  TIDE 77 

XI.  THAT  TIME  OF  YEAR 85 

XII.  BETWEEN  DECKS 97 

XIII.  THE  MIND  OF  THE  DOCTOR 110 

XIV.  To  ADD  MORE  GRIEF 117 

XV.  THE  COAST  OF  FRANCE 128 

XVI.  IT  is  THE  SOUL  THAT  SEES 134 

XVII.  THE  REMNANT  OF  ANOTHER  TIME     ....  146 

XVIII.  OH  HAD  I  WIST! 161 

XIX.  THE  BEST  LAID  PLANS         .        .        .        .        •        .166 

XX.  Now  ARE  WE  FRIENDS  AGAIN  ?  173 

XXI.  THE  CAPTAIN  GIVES  AN  ORDER          ....  178 

XXII.  THE  GREAT  COMMISSIONER 186 

XXIII.  THE  SALUTE  TO  THE  FLAG 203 

XXIV.  WHITEHAVEN            208 

XXV.  A  MAN'S  CHARACTER 221 

XXVI.  THEY  HAVE  MADE  PREY  OF  HIM    ....  227 


vi  CONTENTS 

XXVII.  A  PRISONER  AND  CAPTIVE 232 

XXVIII.  NEWS  AT  THE  LANDING 239 

XXIX.  PEGGY  TAKES  THE  AIR 248 

XXX.  MADAM  GOES  TO  SEA 269 

XXXI.   THE  MILL  PRISON 278 

XXXII.  THE  GOLDEN  DRAGON 288 

XXXIII.  THEY  COME  TO  BRISTOL 303 

XXXIV.  GOOD  ENGLISH  HEARTS 309 

XXXV.  A  STRANGER  AT  HOME 318 

XXXVI.  MY  LORD  NEWBURGH'S  KINDNESS    .        .        .  328 

XXXVII.  THE  BOTTOM  OF  THESE  MISERIES        .        .        .334 

XXXVIII.  FULL  OF  STRAYING  STREETS      ....  343 

XXXIX.   MERCY  AND  MANLY  COURAGE      ....  349 

XL.   THE  WATCHER'S  LIGHT 363 

XLI.  AN  OFFERED  OPPORTUNITY 368 

XLII.  THE  PASSAGE  INN 377 

XLIII.   THEY' FOLLOW  THE  DIKE 383 

XLIV.   THE  ROAD'S  END 392 

XLV.  WITH  THE  FLOOD  TIDE                                        .  402 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 

ARTIST  PAGE 

MARY  HAMILTON         .         Marcia  O.  Woodbury    .  Frontispiece 

THE  BANGER  .        .        .     Charles  H.  Woodbury       ...  98 

HAMILTON  HOUSE        .         Charles  H.  Woodbury    .        .        .  248 

ALONG  THE  DIKE  .        .     Charles  H.  Woodbury       .        •        .  388 


THE  TORY  LOVER 


THE    SEA   WOLF 
"  By  all  you  love  most,  war  and  this  sweet  lady." 

THE  last  day  of  October  in  1777,  Colonel  Jonathan 
Hamilton  came  out  of  his  high  house  on  the  river 
bank  with  a  handsome,  impatient  company  of  guests, 
all  Berwick  gentlemen.  They  stood  on  the  flagstones, 
watching  a  coming  boat  that  was  just  within  sight 
under  the  shadow  of  the  pines  of  the  farther  shore, 
and  eagerly  passed  from  hand  to  hand  a  spyglass  cov 
ered  with  worn  red  morocco  leather.  The  sun  had 
just  gone  down ;  the  quick-gathering  dusk  of  the  short 
day  was  already  veiling  the  sky  before  they  could  see 
the  steady  lift  and  dip  of  long  oars,  and  make  sure 
of  the  boat 's  company.  "While  it  was  still  a  long  dis 
tance  away,  the  gentlemen  turned  westward  and  went 
slowly  down  through  the  terraced  garden,  to  wait  again 
with  much  formality  by  the  gate  at  the  garden  foot. 

Beside  the  master  of  the  house  was  Judge  Chad- 
bourne,  an  old  man  of  singular  dignity  and  kindliness 
of  look,  and  near  them  stood  General  Goodwin,  owner 
of  the  next  estate,  and  Major  Tilly  Haggens  of  the 
Indian  wars,  a  tall,  heavily  made  person,  clumsily 
built,  but  not  without  a  certain  elegance  like  an  old 


2  THE  TORY  LOVER 

bottle  of  Burgundy.  There  was  a  small  group  behind 
these  foremost  men,  —  a  red  cloak  here  and  a  touch 
ot  dark  velvet  on  a  shoulder  beyond,  with  plenty  of 
well-plaited  ruffles  to  grace  the  wearers.  Hamilton's 
young  associate,  John  Lord,  merchant  and  gentleman, 
stood  alone,  trim-wigged  and  serious,  with  a  look  of 
discretion  almost  too  great  for  his  natural  boyish 
grace.  Quite  the  most  impressive  figure  among  them 
was  the  minister,  a  man  of  high  ecclesiastical  lineage, 
very  well  dressed  in  a  three-cornered  beaver  hat,  a 
large  single-breasted  coat  sweeping  down  with  ample 
curves  over  a  long  waistcoat  with  huge  pockets  and 
lappets,  and  a  great  white  stock  that  held  his  chin  high 
in  air.  This  was  fastened  behind  with  a  silver  buckle 
to  match  the  buckles  on  his  tight  knee  breeches,  and 
other  buckles  large  and  flat  on  his  square-toed  shoes ; 
somehow  he  looked  as  like  a  serious  book  with  clasps 
as  a  man  could  look,  with  an  outward  completeness 
that  mated  with  his  inner  equipment  of  fixed  Armin- 
ian  opinions. 

As  for  Colonel  Hamilton,  the  host,  a  strong-looking, 
bright-colored  man  in  the  middle  thirties,  the  softness 
of  a  suit  of  brown,  and  his  own  hair  well  dressed  and 
powdered,  did  not  lessen  a  certain  hardness  in  his  face, 
a  grave  determination,  and  maturity  of  appearance 
far  beyond  the  due  of  his  years.  Hamilton  had  easily 
enough  won  the  place  of  chief  shipping  merchant  and 
prince  of  money-makers  in  that  respectable  group, 
and  until  these  dark  days  of  war  almost  every  venture 
by  land  or  sea  had  added  to  his  fortunes.  The  noble 
house  that  he  had  built  was  still  new  enough  to  be 
the  chief  show  and  glory  of  a  rich  provincial  neigh 
borhood.  With  all  his  power  of  money-making,  — 
and  there  were  those  who  counted  him  a  second  Sir 


THE  SEA  WOLF  3 

William  Pepperrell,  —  Hamilton  was  no  easy  friend- 
maker  like  that  great  citizen  of  the  District  of  Maine, 
nor  even  like  his  own  beautiful  younger  sister,  the 
house's  mistress.  Some  strain  of  good  blood,  which 
they  had  inherited,  seemed  to  have  been  saved 
through  generations  to  nourish  this  one  lovely  exist 
ence,  and  make  her  seem  like  the  single  flower  upon 
their  family  tree.  They  had  come  from  but  a  meagre 
childhood  to  live  here  in  state  and  luxury  beside  the 
river. 

The  broad  green  fields  of  Hamilton's  estate  climbed 
a  long  hill  behind  the  house,  hedged  in  by  stately 
rows  of  elms  and  tufted  by  young  orchards  ;  at  the 
western  side  a  strong  mountain  stream  came  down  its 
deep  channel  over  noisy  falls  and  rapids  to  meet  the 
salt  tide  in  the  bay  below.  This  broad  sea  inlet  and 
inland  harborage  was  too  well  filled  in  an  anxious 
year  with  freightless  vessels  both  small  and  great: 
heavy  seagoing  craft  and  lateen-sailed  gundalows  for 
the  river  traffic ;  idle  enough  now,  and  careened  on 
the  mud  at  half  tide  in  picturesque  confusion. 

The  opposite  shore  was  high,  with  farmhouses  above 
the  fields.  There  were  many  persons  to  be  seen 
coming  down  toward  the  water,  and  when  Colonel 
Hamilton  and  his  guests  appeared  on  the  garden  ter 
races,  a  loud  cry  went  alongshore,  and  instantly  the 
noise  of  mallets  ceased  in  the  shipyard  beyond,  where 
some  carpenters  were  late  at  work.  There  was  an 
eager,  buzzing  crowd  growing  fast  about  the  boat 
landing  and  the  wharf  and  warehouses  which  the 
gentlemen  at  the  high-urned  gateway  looked  down 
upon.  The  boat  was  coming  up  steadily,  but  in  the 
middle  distance  it  seemed  to  lag  ;  the  long  stretch 
of  water  was  greater  than  could  be  measured  by  the 


4:  THE  TORY  LOVER 

eye.  Two  West  Indian  fellows  in  the  crowd  fell  to 
scuffling,  having  trodden  upon  each  other's  rights, 
and  the  on-lookers,  quickly  diverted  from  their  first 
interest,  cheered  them  on,  and  wedged  themselves 
closer  together  to  see  the  fun.  Old  Cassar,  the  majes 
tic  negro  who  had  attended  Hamilton  at  respectful 
distance,  made  it  his  welcome  duty  to  approach  the 
quarrel  with  loud  rebukes ;  usually  the  authority  of 
this  great  person  in  matters  pertaining  to  the  estate 
was  only  second  to  his  master's,  but  in  such  a  mo 
ment  of  high  festival  and  gladiatorial  combat  all  com 
mands  fell  upon  deaf  ears.  Major  Tilly  Haggens 
burst  into  a  hearty  laugh,  glad  of  a  chance  to  break 
the  tiresome  formalities  of  his  associates,  and  being 
a  great  admirer  of  a  skillful  fight.  On  any  serious 
occasion  the  major  always  seemed  a  little  uneasy,  as 
if  restless  with  unspoken  jokes. 

In  the  meantime  the  boat  had  taken  its  shoreward 
curve,  and  was  now  so  near  that  even  through  the 
dusk  the  figures  of  the  oarsmen,  and  of  an  officer, 
sitting  alone  at  the  stern  in  full  uniform,  could  be 
plainly  seen.  The  next  moment  the  wrestling  Tobago 
men  sprang  to  their  feet,  forgetting  their  affront,  and 
ran  to  the  landing-place  with  the  rest. 

The  new  flag  of  the  Congress  with  its  unfamiliar 
stripes  was  trailing  at  the  boat's  stern ;  the  officer 
bore  himself  with  dignity,  and  made  his  salutations 
with  much  politeness.  All  the  gentlemen  on  the  ter 
race  came  down  together  to  the  water's  edge,  without 
haste,  but  with  exact  deference  and  timeliness ;  the 
officer  rose  quickly  in  the  boat,  and  stepped  ashore 
with  ready  foot  and  no  undignified  loss  of  balance. 
He  wore  the  pleased  look  of  a  willing  guest,  and  was 
gayly  dressed  in  a  bright  new  uniform  of  blue  coat 


THE  SEA  WOLF  5 

and  breeches,  with  red  lapels  and  a  red  waistcoat 
trimmed  with  lace.  There  was  a  noisy  cheering,  and 
the  spectators  fell  back  on  either  hand  and  made  way 
for  this  very  elegant  company  to  turn  again  and  go 
their  ways  up  the  river  shore. 

Captain  Paul  Jones  of  the  Eanger  bowed  as  a  well- 
practiced  sovereign  might  as  he  walked  along,  a  little 
stiffly  at  first,  being  often  vexed  by  boat-cramp,  as  he 
now  explained  cheerfully  to  his  host.  There  was  an 
eager  restless  look  in  his  clear-cut  sailor's  face,  with 
quick  eyes  that  seemed  not  to  observe  things  that 
were  near  by,  but  to  look  often  and  hopefully  toward 
the  horizon.  He  was  a  small  man,  but  already  bent 
in  the  shoulders  from  living  between  decks.;  his  sword 
was  long  for  his  height  and  touched  the  ground  as  he 
walked,  dragging  along  a  gathered  handful  of  fallen 
poplar  leaves  with  its  scabbard  tip. 

It  was  growing  dark  as  they  went  up  the  long  gar 
den;  a  thin  white  mist  was  gathering  on  the  river, 
and  blurred  the  fields  where  there  were  marshy  spots 
or  springs.  The  two  brigs  at  the  moorings  had 
strung  up  their  dull  oil  lanterns  to  the  rigging,  where 
they  twinkled  like  setting  stars,  and  made  faint  re 
flections  below  in  the  rippling  current.  The  huge 
elms  that  stood  along  the  river  shore  were  full  of 
shadows,  while  above,  the  large  house  was  growing 
bright  with  candlelight,  and  taking  on  a  cheerful  air 
of  invitation.  As  the  master  and  his  friends  went  up 
to  the  wide  south  door,  there  stepped  out  to  meet  them 
the  lovely  figure  of  a  girl,  tall  and  charming,  and 
ready  with  a  gay  welcome  to  chide  the  captain  for  his 
delay.  She  spoke  affectionately  to  each  of  the  others, 
though  she  avoided  young  Mr.  Lord's  beseeching 
eyes.  The  elder  men  had  hardly  .time  for  a  second 


6  THE  TORY  LOVER 

look  to  reassure  themselves  of  her  bright  beauty,  be 
fore  she  had  vanished  along  the  lighted  hall.  By  the 
time  their  cocked  hats  and  plainer  head  gear  were 
safely  deposited,  old  Cassar  with  a  great  flourish  of 
invitation  had  thrown  open  the  door  of  the  dining 
parlor. 


II 

THE   PARTING   FEAST 

"  A  little  nation,  but  made  great  by  liberty." 

THE  faces  gathered  about  the  table  were  serious 
and  full  of  character.  They  wore  the  look  of  men 
who  would  lay  down  their  lives  for  the  young  country 
whose  sons  they  were,  and  though  provincial  enough 
for  the  most  part,  so  looked  most  of  the  men  who  sat 
in  Parliament  at  Westminster,  and  there  was  no  more 
patrician  head  than  the  old  judge's  to  be  seen  upon 
the  English  bench.  They  were  for  no  self -furtherance 
in  public  matters,  but  conscious  in  their  hearts  of  some 
national  ideas  that  a  Greek  might  have  cherished 
in  his  clear  brain,  or  any  citizen  of  the  great  days 
of  Eome.  They  were  men  of  a  single-hearted  faith 
in  Liberty  that  shone  bright  and  unassailable  ;  there 
were  men  as  good  as  they  in  a  hundred  other  towns. 
It  was  a  simple  senate  of  New  England,  ready  and 
able  to  serve  her  cause  in  small  things  and  great. 

The  next  moment  after  the  minister  had  said  a 
proper  grace,  the  old  judge  had  a  question  to  ask. 

"  Where  is  Miss  Mary  Hamilton  ?  "  said  he.  "  Shall 
we  not  have  the  pleasure  of  her  company?  " 

"  My  sister  looks  for  some  young  friends  later," 
explained  the  host,  but  with  a  touch  of  coldness  in  his 
voice.  "  She  begs  us  to  join  her  then  in  her  drawing- 
room,  knowing  that  we  are  now  likely  to  have  business 


8  THE  TORY  LOVER 

together  and  much  discussion  of  public  affairs.  I  bid 
you  all  welcome  to  my  table,  gentlemen ;  may  we 
be  here  to  greet  Captain  Paul  Jones  on  his  glorious 
return,  as  we  speed  him  now  on  so  high  an  errand !  " 

"  You  have  made  your  house  very  pleasant  to  a 
homeless  man,  Colonel  Hamilton,"  returned  the  cap 
tain,  with  great  feeling.  "  And  Miss  Hamilton  is  as 
good  a  patriot  as  her  generous  brother.  May  Massa 
chusetts  and  the  Province  of  Maine  never  lack  such 
sons  and  daughters  !  There  are  many  of  my  men 
taking  their  farewell  supper  on  either  shore  of  your 
river  this  night.  I  have  received  my  dispatches,  and 
it  is  settled  that  we  sail  for  France  to-morrow  morning 
at  the  turn  of  tide." 

"  To-morrow  morning  !  "  they  exclaimed  in  chorus. 
The  captain's  manner  gave  the  best  of  news ;  there 
was  an  instant  shout  of  approval  and  congratulation. 
His  own  satisfaction  at  being  finally  ordered  to  sea 
after  many  trying  delays  was  understood  by  every 
one,  since  for  many  months,  while  the  Ranger  was  on 
the  stocks  at  Portsmouth,  Paul  Jones  had  bitterly 
lamented  the  indecisions  of  a  young  government,  and 
regretted  the  slipping  away  of  great  opportunities 
abroad  and  at  home.  To  say  that  he  had  made  him 
self  as  vexing  as  a  wasp  were  to  say  the  truth,  but  he 
had  already  proved  himself  a  born  leader  with  a  heart 
on  fire  with  patriotism  and  deep  desire  for  glory,  and 
there  were  those  present  who  eagerly  recognized  his 
power  and  were  ready  to  further  his  best  endeavors. 
Young  men  had  flocked  to  his  side,  sailors  born  and 
bred  on  the  river  shores,  and  in  Portsmouth  town, 
who  could  serve  their  country  well.  Berwick  was  in 
the  thick  of  the  fight  from  the  very  beginning ;  her 
company  of  soldiers  had  been  among  the  first  at  Bun- 


THE  PARTING  FEAST  9 

ker's  Hill,  and  the  alarm  at  Lexington  had  shaken 
her  very  hills  at  home.  Twin  sister  of  Portsmouth  in 
age,  and  sharer  of  her  worldly  conditions,  the  old  ease 
and  wealth  of  the  town  were  sadly  troubled  now  ; 
there  was  many  a  new  black  gown  in  the  parson's 
great  parish,  and  many  a  mother's  son  lay  dead,  or 
suffered  in  an  English  prison.  Yet  the  sea  still  beck 
oned  with  white  hands,  and  Paul  Jones  might  have 
shipped  his  crew  on  the  river  many  times  over.  The 
ease  of  teaching  England  to  let  the  colonies  alone  was 
not  spoken  of  with  such  bold  certainty  as  at  first,  and 
some  late  offenses  were  believed  to  be  best  revenged 
by  such  a  voyage  as  the  Ranger  was  about  to  make. 

Captain  Paul  Jones  knew  his  work;  he  was  full  of 
righteous  wrath  toward  England,  and  professed  a  large 
readiness  to  accept  the  offered  friendliness  of  France. 

Colonel  Jonathan  Hamilton  could  entertain  like  a 
prince.  The  feast  was  fit  for  the  room  in  which  it 
was  served,  and  the  huge  cellar  beneath  was  well 
stored  with  casks  of  wine  that  had  come  from  France 
and  Spain,  or  from  England  while  her  ports  were  still 
home  ports  for  the  colonies.  Being  a  Scotsman,  the 
guest  of  honor  was  not  unmindful  of  excellent  claret, 
and  now  set  down  his  fluted  silver  tumbler  after  a 
first  deep  draught,  and  paid  his  host  a  handsome  com 
pliment. 

"  You  live  like  a  Virginia  gentleman,  sir,  here  in 
your  Northern  home.  They  little  know  in  Great 
Britain  what  stately  living  is  among  us.  The  noble 
Countess  of  Selkirk  thought  that  I  was  come  to  live 
among  the  savages,  instead  of  gratifying  my  wishes 
for  that  calm  contemplation  and  poetic  ease  which, 
alas,  I  have  ever  been  denied," 


10  THE  TORY  LOVER 

"  They  affect  to  wonder  at  the  existence  of  Ameri 
can  gentlemen,"  returned  the  judge.  "  When  my 
father  went  to  Court  in  '22,  and  they  hinted  the  like, 
he  reminded  them  that  since  they  had  sent  over  some 
of  the  best  of  their  own  gentlefolk  to  found  the  colo 
nies,  it  would  be  strange  if  none  but  boors  and  clowns 
came  back." 

"  In  Virginia  they  consider  that  they  breed  the 
only  gentlemen  ;  that  is  the  great  pity,"  said  Parson 
Tompson.  "  Some  of  my  classmates  at  Cambridge 
arrived  at  college  with  far  too  proud  a  spirit.  They 
were  pleased  to  be  amused,  at  first,  because  so  many 
of  us  at  the  North  were  destined  for  the  ministry." 

"  You  will  remember  that  Don  Quixote  speaks  of  the 
Church,  the  Sea,  and  the  Court  for  his  Spanish  gentle 
men,"  said  Major  Tilly  Haggens,  casting  a  glance 
across  at  the  old  judge.  "  We  have  had  the  two  first 
to  choose  from  in  New  England,  if  we  lacked  the 
third."  The  world  was  much  with  the  major,  and  he 
was  nothing  if  not  eager  spoken.  "  People  forget  to 
look  at  the  antecedents  of  our  various  colonists ;  't  is 
the  only  way  to  understand  them.  In  these  Piscata- 
qua  neighborhoods  we  do  not  differ  so  much  from 
those  of  Virginia ;  't  is  not  the  same  pious  stock  as 
made  Connecticut  and  the  settlements  of  Massachu 
setts  Bay.  We  are  children  of  the  Norman  blood  in 
New  England  and  Virginia,  at  any  rate.  'T  is  the 
Saxons  who  try  to  rule  England  now ;  there  is  the 
cause  of  all  our  troubles.  Norman  and  Saxon  have 
never  yet  learned  to  agree." 

"  You  give  me  a  new  thought,"  said  the  captain. 

"  For  me,"  explained  the  major,  "  I  am  of  fighting 
and  praying  Huguenot  blood,  and  here  comes  in  an 
other  strain  to  our  nation's  making.  I  might  have 


THE   PARTING  FEAST  11 

been  a  parson  myself  if  there  had  not  been  a  stray 
French  gallant  to  my  grandfather,  who  ran  away  with 
a  saintly  Huguenot  maiden ;  his  ghost  still  walks  by 
night  and  puts  the  devil  into  me  so  that  I  forget  my 
decent  hymns.  My  family  name  is  Huyghens  ;  't  was 
a  noble  house  of  the  Low  Countries.  Christian  Huy 
ghens,  author  of  the  Cosmotheoros,  was  iny  father's 
kinsman,  and  I  was  christened  for  the  famous  Gen 
eral  Tilly  of  stern  faith,  but  the  gay  Frenchman  will 
ever  rule  me.  'Tis  all  settled  by  our  antecedents," 
and  he  turned  to  Captain  Paul  Jones.  "  I  'm  for  the 
flower-de-luce,  sir ;  if  I  were  a  younger  man  I  'd  sail 
with  you  to-morrow !  'T  is  very  hard  for  us  aging 
men  with  boys'  hearts  in  us  to  stay  decently  at  home. 
I  should  have  been  born  in  France !  " 

"France  is  your  country's  friend,  sir,"  said  Paul 
Jones,  bowing  across  the  table.  "  Let  us  drink  to 
France,  gentlemen !  "  and  the  company  drank  the 
toast.  Old  Caesar  bowed  with  the  rest  as  he  stood 
behind  his  master's  chair,  and  smacked  his  lips  with 
pathetic  relish  of  the  wine  which  he  had  tasted  only  in 
imagination.  The  captain's  quick  eyes  caught  sight 
of  him. 

"  By  your  leave,  Colonel  Hamilton !  "  he  exclaimed 
heartily.  "  This  is  a  toast  that  every  American  should 
share  the  pleasure  of  drinking.  I  observe  that  my 
old  friend  Caesar  has  joined  us  in  spirit,"  and  he 
turned  with  a  courtly  bow  and  gave  a  glass  to  the 
serving  man. 

"  You  have  as  much  at  stake  as  we  in  this  great 
enterprise,"  he  said  gently,  in  a  tone  that  moved  the 
hearts  of  all  the  supper  company.  "  May  I  drink 
with  you  to  France,  our  country's  ally  ?  " 

A  lesser  soul  might  have  babbled  thanks,  but  Caesar, 


12  THE  TORY  LOVER 

who  had  been  born  a  Guinea  prince,  drank  in  silence, 
stepped  back  to  his  place  behind  his  master,  and  stood 
there  like  a  king.  His  underlings  went  and  came 
serving  the  supper ;  he  ruled  them  like  a  great  com 
mander  on  the  field  of  battle,  and  hardly  demeaned 
himself  to  move  again  until  the  board  was  cleared. 

"I  seldom  see  a  black  face  without  remembering 
the  worst  of  my  boyish  days  when  I  sailed  in  the  Two 
Friends,  slaver,"  said  the  captain  gravely,  but  with 
easy  power  of  continuance.  "  Our  neighbor  town  of 
Dumfries  was  in  the  tobacco  trade,  and  all  their  car 
goes  were  unloaded  in  Carsethorn  Bay,  close  by  my 
father's  house.  I  was  easily  enough  tempted  to  follow 
the  sea ;  I  was  trading  in  the  Betsey  at  seventeen,  and 
felt  myself  a  man  of  experience.  I  have  observed  too 
many  idle  young  lads  hanging  about  your  Portsmouth 
wharves  who  ought  to  be  put  to  sea  under  a  smart  cap 
tain.  They  are  ready  to  cheer  or  to  jeer  at  strangers, 
and  take  no  pains  to  be  manly.  I  began  to  follow  the 
sea  when  I  was  but  a  child,  yet  I  was  always  ambitious 
of  command,  and  ever  thinking  how  I  might  best  study 
the  art  of  navigation." 

"  There  were  few  idlers  along  this  river  once,"  said 
General  Goodwin  regretfully.  "  The  times  grow  worse 
and  worse." 

"  You  referred  to  the  slaver,  Two  Friends,"  inter 
rupted  the  minister,  who  had  seen  a  shadow  of  dis 
approval  on  the  faces  of  two  of  his  parishioners 
(one  being  Colonel  Hamilton's)  at  the  captain's  tone. 
"  May  I  observe  that  there  has  seemed  to  be  some 
manifestation  of  a  kind  Providence  in  bringing  so 
many  heathen  souls  to  the  influence  of  a  Christian 
country  ?  " 

The  fierce  temper  of  the  captain  flamed  to  his  face  ; 


THE  PARTING  FEAST  13 

he  looked  up  at  old  Caesar  who  well  remembered  the 
passage  from  his  native  land,  and  saw  that  black 
countenance  set  like  an  iron  mask. 

"  I  must  beg  your  reverence's  kind  pardon  if  I  con 
tradict  you,"  said  Paul  Jones,  with  scornful  bitterness. 

There  was  a  murmur  of  protest  about  the  table ;  the 
captain's  reply  was  not  counted  to  be  in  the  best  of 
taste.  Society  resents  being  disturbed  at  its  pleasures, 
and  the  man  who  had  offended  was  now  made  con 
scious  of  his  rudeness.  He  looked  up,  however,  and 
saw  Miss  Hamilton  standing  near  the  open  doorway 
that  led  into  the  hall.  She  was  gazing  at  him  with 
no  relic  of  that  indifference  which  had  lately  distressed 
his  heart,  and  smiled  at  him  as  she  colored  deeply, 
and  disappeared. 

The  captain  took  on  a  more  spirited  manner  than 
before,  and  began  to  speak  of  politics,  of  the  late  news 
from  Long  Island,  where  a  son  of  old  Berwick,  Gen 
eral  John  Sullivan,  had  taken  the  place  of  Lee,  and 
was  now  next  in  command  to  Washington  himself. 
This  night  Paul  Jones  seemed  to  be  in  no  danger  of 
those  fierce  outbursts  of  temper  with  which  he  was  apt 
to  startle  his  more  amiable  and  prosaic  companions. 
There  was  some  discussion  of  immediate  affairs,  and 
one  of  the  company,  Mr.  Wentworth,  fell  upon  the 
inevitable  subject  of  the  Tories  ;  a  topic  sure  to  rouse 
much  bitterness  of  feeling.  Whatever  his  own  prin 
ciples,  every  man  present  had  some  tie  of  friendship 
or  bond  of  kindred  with  those  who  were  Loyalists  for 
conscience'  sake,  and  could  easily  be  made  ill  at  ease. 

The  moment  seemed  peculiarly  unfortunate  for  such 
trespass,  and  when  there  came  an  angry  lull  in  the 
storm  of  talk,  Mr.  Lord  somewhat  anxiously  called 
attention  to  a  pair  of  great  silver  candlesticks  which 


14  THE  TORY  LOVER 

graced  the  feast,  and  by  way  of  compliment  begged 
to  be  told  their  history.  It  was  not  unknown  that  they 
had  been  brought  from  England  a  few  summers  before 
in  one  of  Hamilton's  own  ships,  and  that  he  was  not 
without  his  fancy  for  such  things  as  gave  his  house 
a  look  of  rich  ancestry;  a  stranger  might  well  have 
thought  himself  in  a  good  country  house  of  Queen 
Anne's  time  near  London.  But  this  placid  interlude 
did  not  rouse  any  genuine  interest,  and  old  Judge 
Chadbourne  broke  another  awkward  pause  and  harked 
back  to  safer  ground  in  the  conversation. 

"  I  shall  hereafter  make  some  discrimination  against 
men  of  color.  I  have  suffered  a  great  trial  of  the 
spirit  this  day,"  he  began  seriously.  "  I  ask  the  kind 
sympathy  of  each  friend  present.  I  had  promised  my 
friend,  President  Hancock,  some  of  our  Berwick  elms 
to  plant  near  his  house  on  Boston  Common ;  he  has 
much  admired  the  fine  natural  growth  of  that  tree  in 
our  good  town  here,  and  the  beauty  it  lends  to  our  high 
ridges  of  land.  I  gave  directions  to  my  man  Ajax, 
known  to  some  of  you  as  a  competent  but  lazy  soul,- 
and  as  I  was  leaving  home  he  ran  after  me,  shouting  to 
inquire  where  he  should  find  the  trees.  '  Oh,  get  them 
anywhere ! '  said  I,  impatient  at  the  detention,  and 
full  of  some  difficult  matters  which  were  coming  up 
at  our  term  in  York.  And  this  morning  on  niy  return 
from  court,  I  missed  a  well-started  row  of  young  elms, 
which  I  had  selected  myself  and  planted  along  the 
outer  border  of  my  gardens.  Ajax  had  taken  the 
most  accessible,  and  they  had  all  gone  down  river  by 
the  packet.  I  shall  have  a  good  laugh  with  Hancock 
by  and  by.  I  remember  that  he  once  praised  these 
very  trees  and  professed  to  covet  them." 

"  'T  was  the  evil  eye,"  suggested  Mr.  Hill,  laughing; 


THE  PARTING  FEAST  15 

but  the  minister  slowly  shook  his  head,  contemptuous 
of  such  superstitions. 

"  I  saw  that  one  of  our  neighbor  Madam  Walling- 
ford's  favorite  oaks  was  sadly  broken  by  the  recent 
gale,"  said  Mr.  Wentworth  unguardedly,  and  this  was 
sufficient  to  make  a  new  name  fairly  leap  into  the 
conversation,  —  that  of  Mr.  Koger  Wallingf  ord,  the 
son  of  a  widowed  lady  of  great  fortune,  whose  house 
stood  not  far  distant,  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  in 
Somers  worth. 

General  Goodwin  at  once  dropped  his  voice  regret 
fully.  "  I  am  afraid  that  we  can  have  no  doubt  now  of 
the  young  man's  sympathy  with  our  oppressors,"  said 
he.  "I  hear  that  he  has  been  seen  within  a  week 
coming  out  of  the  Earl  of  Halifax  tavern  in  Ports 
mouth,  late  at  night,  as  if  from  a  secret  conference. 
A  friend  of  mine  heard  him  say  openly  on  the  Parade 
that  Mr.  Benjamin  Thompson  of  old  Rumford  had 
been  unfairly  driven  to  seek  Royalist  protection,  and 
to  flee  his  country,  leaving  wife  and  infant  child  be 
hind  him  ;  that  't  was  all  from  the  base  suspicions 
and  hounding  of  his  neighbors,  whose  worst  taunt  had 
ever  been  that  he  loved  and  sought  the  company  of 
gentlemen.  '  I  pity  him  from  my  heart,'  says  Wal 
lingf  ord  in  a  loud  voice ;  as  if  pity  could  ever  belong 
to  so  vile  a  traitor  !  " 

"  But  I  fear  that  this  was  true,"  said  Judge  Chad- 
bourne,  the  soundest  of  patriots,  gravely  interrupting. 
"  They  drove  young  Thompson  away  in  hot  haste 
when  his  country  was  in  sorest  need  of  all  such  natu 
rally  chivalrous  and  able  men.  He  meant  no  disloy 
alty  until  his  crisis  came,  and  proved  his  rash  young 
spirit  too  weak  to  meet  it.  He  will  be  a  great  man 
some  day,  if  I  read  men  aright ;  we  shall  be  proud  of 


16  THE  TORY  LOVER 

him  in  spite  of  everything.  He  had  his  foolish  follies, 
and  the  wrong  road  never  leads  to  the  right  place,  but 
the  taunts  of  the  narrow-minded  would  have  made 
many  an  older  man  fling  himself  out  of  reach.  'T  is  a 
sad  mischance  of  war.  Young  Wallingf  ord  is  a  proud 
fellow,  and  has  his  follies  too ;  his  kindred  in  Boston 
thought  themselves  bound  to  the  King  ;  they  are  his 
elders  and  have  been  his  guardians,  and  youth  may 
forbid  his  seeing  the  fallacy  of  their  arguments.  Our 
country  is  above  our  King  in  such  a  time  as  this,  yet 
I  myself  was  of  those  who  could  not  lightly  throw  off 
the  allegiance  of  a  lifetime." 

"  I  have  always  said  that  we  must  have  patience 
with  such  lads  and  not  try  to  drive  them,"  said  Major 
Haggens,  the  least  patient  of  all  the  gentlemen.  Cap 
tain  Paul  Jones  drummed  on  the  table  with  one  hand 
and  rattled  the  links  of  his  sword  hilt  with  the  other. 
The  minister  looked  dark  and  unconvinced,  but  the  old 
judge  stood  first  among  his  parishioners  ;  he  did  not 
answer,  but  threw  an  imploring  glance  toward  Hamil 
ton  at  the  head  of  the  table. 

"  We  are  beginning  to  lose  the  very  last  of  our  pa 
tience  now  with  those  who  cry  that  our  country  is  too 
young  and  poor  to  go  alone,  and  urge  that  we  should 
bear  our  wrongs  and  be  tied  to  the  skirts  of  England 
for  fifty  years  more.  What  about  our  poor  sailors 
dying  like  sheep  in  the  English  jails  ?  "  said  Hamilton 
harshly.  "  He  that  is  not  for  us  is  against  us,  and  so 
the  people  feel." 

"  The  true  patriot  is  the  man  who  risks  all  for  love 
of  country,"  said  the  minister,  following  fast  behind. 

"  They  have  little  to  risk,  some  of  the  loudest  of 
them,"  insisted  Major  Haggens  scornfully.  "  They 
would  not  brook  the  thought  of  conciliation,  but  fire 


THE  PARTING  FEAST  17 

and  sword  and  other  men's  money  are  their  only  sinews 
of  war.  I  mean  that  some  of  those  dare-devils  in 
Boston  have  often  made  matters  worse  than  there  was 
any  need,"  he  added,  in  a  calmer  tone. 

Paul  Jones  cast  a  look  of  contempt  upon  such  a 
complaining  old  soldier. 

"  You  must  remember  that  many  discomforts  accom 
pany  a  great  struggle,"  he  answered.  "  The  lower 
classes,  as  some  are  pleased  to  call  certain  citizens  of 
our  Republic,  must  serve  Liberty  in  their  own  fashion. 
They  are  used  to  homespun  shirt-sleeves  and  not  to 
lace  ruffles,  but  they  make  good  fighters,  and  their 
hearts  are  true.  Sometimes  their  instinct  gives  them 
to  see  farther  ahead  than  we  can.  I  fear  indeed  that 
there  is  trouble  brewing  for  some  of  your  valued  neigh 
bors  who  are  not  willing  to  be  outspoken.  A  certain 
young  gentleman  has  of  late  shown  some  humble 
desires  to  put  himself  into  an  honorable  position  for 
safety's  sake." 

"You  mistake  us,  sir,"  said  the  old  judge,  hastening 
to  speak.  "  But  we  are  not  served  in  our  struggle  by 
such  lawlessness  of  behavior ;  we  are  only  hindered 
by  it.  General  George  Washington  is  our  proper 
model,  and  not  those  men  whose  manners  and  lan 
guage  are  not  worthy  of  civilization." 

The  guest  of  the  evening  looked  frankly  bored,  and 
Major  Tilly  Haggens  came  to  the  rescue.  The  cap 
tain's  dark  hint  had  set  them  all  staring  at  one 
another. 

"  Some  of  our  leaders  in  this  struggle  make  me 
think  of  an  old  Scottish  story  I  got  from  Mclntire  in 
York,"  said  he.  "  There  was  an  old  farmer  went  to 
the  elders  to  get  his  tokens  for  the  Sacrament,  and 
they  propounded  him  his  questions.  '  What 's  your 


18  THE  TORY  LOVER 

view  of  Adam  ? '  says  they  :  '  what  kind  of  a  mon  ? ' 
'  Well,'  says  the  farmer,  '  I  think  Adam  was  like  Jack 
Simpson  the  horse  trader.  Varra  few  got  anything 
by  him,  an'  a  mony  lost.'  ' 

The  captain  laughed  gayly  as  if  with  a  sense  of  pro 
prietorship  in  the  joke.  "  'T  is  old  Scotland  all  over," 
he  acknowledged,  and  then  his  face  grew  stern  again. 

"  Your  loud  talkers  are  the  gadflies  that  hurry  the 
slowest  oxen,"  he  warned  the  little  audience.  "  And 
we  have  to  remember  that  if  those  who  would  rob 
America  of  her  liberties  should  still  prevail,  we  all  sit 
here  with  halters  round  our  necks  !  "  Which  caused 
the  spirits  of  the  company  to  sink  so  low  that  again 
the  cheerful  major  tried  to  succor  it. 

"  Shall  we  drink  to  The  Ladies  ?  "  he  suggested,  with 
fine  though  unexpected  courtesy ;  and  they  drank  as 
if  it  were  the  first  toast  of  the  evening. 

"  We  are  in  the  middle  of  a  great  war  now,  and 
must  do  the  best  we  can,"  said  Hamilton,  as  if  he 
wished  to  make  peace  about  his  table.  "  Last  summer 
when  things  were  at  the  darkest,  Sam  Adams  came 
riding  down  to  Exeter  to  plead  with  Mr.  Gilman  for 
money  and  troops  on  the  part  of  their  Kockingham 
towns.  The  Treasurer  was  away,  and  his  wife  saw 
Adams's  great  anxiety  and  the  tears  rolling  down  his 
cheeks,  and  heard  him  groan  aloud  as  he  paced  to  and 
fro  in  the  room.  '  O  my  God  !  '  says  he,  *  and  must 
we  give  it  all  up  !  *  When  the  good  lady  told  me 
there  were  tears  in  her  own  eyes,  and  I  vow  that  I  was 
fired  as  I  had  never  been  before,  —  I  have  loved  the 
man  ever  since ;  I  called  him  a  stirrer  uptof  frenzies 
once,  but  it  fell  upon  my  heart  that,  after  all,  it  is  men 
like  Sam  Adams  who  hold  us  to  our  duty." 

"  I  cannot  envy  Sam  Curwen  his  travels  in  rural 


THE  PARTING  FEAST  19 

England,  or  Gray  that  he  moves  in  the  best  London 
society,  but  Mr.  Hancock  writes  me  'tis  thought  all 
our  best  men  have  left  us,"  said  Judge  Chadbourne. 

"  'T  is  a  very  genteel  company  now  at  Bristol,"  said 
John  Lord. 

"  I  hear  that  the  East  India  Company  is  in  terrible 
difficulties,  and  her  warehouses  in  London  are  crammed 
to  bursting  with  the  tea  that  we  have  refused  to  drink. 
If  they  only  had  sense  enough  to  lift  the  tax  and  give 
us  liberty  for  our  own  trade,  we  should  soon  drink  all 
their  troubles  dry,"  said  Colonel  Hamilton. 

"  'T  is  not  because  we  hate  England,  but  because 
we  love  her  that  we  are  hurt  so  deep,"  said  Mr.  Hill. 
"  When  a  man's  mother  is  jealous  because,  he  prospers, 
and  turns  against  him,  it  is  worst  of  all." 

"  Send  your  young  men  to  sea !  "  cried  Captain  Paul 
Jones,  who  had  no  patience  with  the  resettling  of  ques 
tions  already  left  far  behind.  "  Send  me  thorough 
bred  lads  like  your  dainty  young  Wallingf ord  !  You 
must  all  understand  how  little  can  be  done  with  this 
poor  basket  of  a  Hanger  against  a  well-furnished  Brit 
ish  man-of-war.  My  reverend  friend  here  has  his 
heart  in  the  matter.  I  myself  have  flung  away  friends 
and  fortune  for  my  adopted  country,  and  she  has  been 
but  a  stingy  young  stepmother  to  me.  I  go  to  fight 
her  cause  on  the  shores  that  gave  me  birth ;  I  trample 
some  dear  recollections  under  foot,  and  she  haggles 
with  me  all  summer  over  a  paltry  vessel  none  too  smart 
for  a  fisherman,  and  sends  me  to  sea  in  her  with  my 
gallant  crew.  You  all  know  that  the  Ranger  is  crank 
built,  and  her  timbers  not  first  class,  —  her  thin  sails 
are  but  coarse  hessings,  with  neither  a  spare  sheet,  nor 
stuff  to  make  it,  and  there  's  not  even  room  aboard  for 
all  her  guns.  I  sent  four  six-pounders  ashore  out  of 


20  THE  TORY  LOVER 

her  this  very  day  so  that  we  can  train  the  rest.  'T  is 
some  of  your  pretty  Tories  that  have  picked  our  knots 
as  fast  as  we  tied  them,  and  some  jealous  hand  chose 
poor  planking  for  our  decks  and  rotten  red-oak  knees 
for  the  frame.  But,  thank  God,  she  's  a  vessel  at  last ! 
I  would  sail  for  France  in  a  gundalow,  so  help  me 
Heaven  I  and  once  in  France  I  shall  have  a  proper 
man-of-war." 

There  was  a  chorus  of  approval  and  applause  ;  the 
listeners  were  deeply  touched  and  roused;  they  all 
wished  to  hear  something  of  the  captain's  plans,  but 
he  returned  to  the  silver  tumbler  of  claret,  and  sat  for 
a  moment  as  if  considering ;  his  head  was  held  high, 
and  his  eyes  flashed  with  excitement  as  he  looked  up 
at  the  high  cornice  of  the  room.  He  had  borne  the 
name  of  the  Sea  Wolf ;  in  that  moment  of  excitement 
he  looked  ready  to  spring  upon  any  foe,  but  to  the 
disappointment  of  every  one  he  said  no  more. 

"  The  country  is  drained  now  of  ready  money,"  said 
•young  Lord  despondently ;  "  this  war  goes  on,  as  it 
must  go  on,  at  great  sacrifice.  The  reserves  must 
come  out,  —  those  who  make  excuse  and  the  only  sons, 
and  even  men  like  me,  turned  off  at  first  for  lack  of 
health.  We  meet  the  strain  sadly  in  this  little  town  ; 
we  have  done  the  best  we  could  on  the  river,  sir,  in 
fitting  out  your  frigate,  but  you  must  reflect  upon  our 
situation." 

The  captain  could  not  resist  a  comprehensive  glance 
at  the  richly  furnished  table  and  stately  dining-room 
of  his  host,  and  there  was  not  a  man  who  saw  it  who 
did  not  flush  with  resentment. 

"We  are  poorly  off  for  stores,"  he  said  bitterly, 
"  and  nothing  takes  down  the  courage  of  a  seaman 
like  poor  fare.  I  found  to-day  that  we  had  only  thirty 


THE   PARTING  FEAST  21 

gallons  of  spirits  for  the  whole  crew."  At  which 
melancholy  information  Major  Haggens's  kind  heart 
could  not  forbear  a  groan. 

General  Goodwin  waved  his  hand  and  took  his  turn 
to  speak  with  much  dignity. 

"  This  is  the  first  time  that  we  have  all  been  guests 
at  this  hospitable  board  in  many  long  weeks,"  he 
announced  gravely.  "  There  is  no  doubt  about  the 
propriety  of  republican  simplicity,  or  our  readiness  to 
submit  to  it,  though  our  ancient  Berwick  traditions 
have  taught  us  otherwise.  But  I  see  reason  to  agree 
with  our  friend  and  former  townsman,  Judge  Sullivan, 
who  lately  answered  John  Adams  for  his  upbraiding 
of  President  Hancock's  generous  way  of  doing  things. 
He  insists  that  such  open  hospitality  is  to  be  praised 
when  consistent  with  the  means  of  the  host,  and  that 
when  the  people  are  anxious  and  depressed  it  is  im 
portant  to  the  public  cheerfulness." 

"  'T  is  true.  James  Sullivan  is  right,"  said  Major 
Haggens ;  "  we  are  not  at  Poverty's  back  door  either. 
You  will  still  find  a  glass  of  decent  wine  in  every  gen 
tleman's  house  in  old  Barvick  and  a  mug  of  honest 
cider  by  every  farmer's  fireside.  We  may  lack  for 
eign  luxuries,  but  we  can  well  sustain  ourselves.  This 
summer  has  found  many  women  active  in  the  fields, 
where  our  men  have  dropped  the  hoe  to  take  their  old 
swords  again  that  were  busy  in  the  earlier  wars." 

"  We  have  quelled  the  savage,  but  the  wars  of  civ 
ilization  are  not  less  to  be  dreaded,"  said  the  good 
minister. 

"  War  is  but  war,"  said  Colonel  Hamilton.  "  Let 
us  drink  to  Peace,  gentlemen ! "  and  they  all  drank 
heartily ;  but  Paul  Jones  looked  startled  ;  as  if  the 
war  might  really  end  without  having  served  his  own 
ambitions. 


22  THE  TORY  LOVER 

"  Nature  has  made  a  hero  of  him,"  said  the  judge 
to  his  neighbor,  as  they  saw  and  read  the  emotion  of 
the  captain's  look.  "  Circumstances  have  now  given 
him  the  command  of  men  and  a  great  opportunity. 
We  shall  see  the  result." 

"  Yet  't  is  a  contemptible  force  of  ship  and  men,  to 
think  of  striking  terror  along  the  strong  coasts  of  Eng 
land,"  observed  Mr.  Hill  to  the  parson,  who  answered 
him  with  sympathy ;  and  the  talk  broke  up  and  was 
only  between  man  and  man,  while  the  chief  thought 
of  every  one  was  upon  the  venison,  —  a  fine  saddle  that 
had  come  down  the  week  before  from  the  north  coun 
try  about  the  Saco  intervales. 


Ill 

A  CHARACTER  OF  HONOR 

"  Sad  was  I,  even  to  pain  deprest, 
Importunate  and  heavy  load ! 
The  comforter  hath  found  me  here 
Upon  this  lonely  road !  " 

"YOUR  friend  General  Sullivan  has  had  his  de- 
famers,  but  he  goes  to  prove  himself  one  of  our  ablest 
men,"  said  Paul  Jones  to  Hamilton.  "  I  grieve  to 
see  that  his  old  father,  that  lofty  spirit  and  fine  wit,  is 
not  with  us  to-night.  Sullivan  is  a  soldier  born." 

"  There  is  something  in  descent,"  said  Hamilton 
eagerly.  "  They  come  of  a  line  of  fighting  men  famous 
in  the  Irish  struggles.  John  Sullivan's  grandfather 
was  with  Patrick  Sarsfield,  the  great  Earl  of  Lucan, 
at  Limerick,  and  the  master  himself,  if  all  tales  are 
true,  was  much  involved  in  the  early  plots  of  the  old 
Pretender.  No,  sir,  he  was  not  out  in  the  '15  ;  he  was 
a  student  at  that  time  in  France,  but  I  dare  say  ready 
to  lend  himself  to  anything  that  brought  revenge  upon 
England." 

"  Commend  me  to  your  ancient  sage  the  ma.ster," 
said  the  captain.  "  I  wish  we  might  have  had  him 
here  to-night.  When  we  last  dined  here  together  he 
talked  not  only  of  our  unfortunate  King  James,  but 
of  the  great  Prince  of  Conti  and  Louis  Quatorze  as  if 
he  had  seen  them  yesterday.  He  was  close  to  many 
great  events  in  France." 


24  THE  TORY  LOVER 

"  You  speak  of  our  old  Master  Sullivan,"  said 
Major  Haggens  eagerly,  edging  his  chair  a  little 
nearer.  "  Yes,  he  knew  all  those  great  Frenchmen  as 
he  knows  his  Virgil  and  Tully ;  we  are  all  his  pupils 
here,  old  men  and  young ;  he  is  master  of  a  little 
school  on  Pine  Hill ;  there  is  no  better  scholar  and 
gentleman  in  New  England." 

"Or  Old  England  either,"  added  Judge  Chad- 
bourne. 

"  They  say  that  he  had  four  countesses  to  his  grand 
mothers,  and  that  his  grandfathers  were  lords  of 
Beare  and  Bantry,  and  princes  of  Ireland,"  said  the 
major.  "  His  father  was  banished  to  France  by  the 
Stuarts,  and  died  from  a  duel  there,  and  the  master 
was  brought  up  in  one  of  their  great  colleges  in  Paris 
where  his  house  held  a  scholarship.  He  was  reared 
among  the  best  Frenchmen  of  his  time.  As  for  his 
coming  here,  there  are  many  old  stories  ;  some  say 
't  was  being  found  in  some  treasonable  plot,  and  some 
that  't  was  for  the  sake  of  a  lady  whom  his  mother 
would  not  let  him  stoop  to  marry.  He  vowed  that 
she  should  never  see  his  face  again ;  all  his  fortunes 
depended  on  his  mother,  so  he  fled  the  country." 

"  With  the  lady  ?  "  asked  the  captain,  with  interest, 
and  pushing  along  the  decanter  of  Madeira. 

"  No,"  said  the  major,  stopping  to  fill  his  own  glass 
as  if  it  were  a  pledge  of  remembrance.  "  No,  he 
came  to  old  York  a  bachelor,  to  the  farm  of  the  Mc- 
Intires,  Koyalist  exiles  in  the  old  Cromwell  times,  ancl 
worked  there  with  his  hands  until  some  one  asked  him 
if  he  could  write  a  letter,  and  he  wrote  it  in  seven 
languages.  Then  the  minister,  old  Mr.  Moody,  planted 
him  in  our  grammar  school.  There  had  been  great 
lack  of  classical  teaching  in  all  this  region  for  those 


A  CHARACTER  OF  HONOR  25 

who  would  be  college  bred,  and  since  that  early  year 
he  has  kept  his  school  for  lads  and  now  and  then  for 
a  bright  girl  or  two  like  Miss  Mary  Hamilton,  and  her 
mother  before  her." 

"  One  such  man  who  knows  the  world  and  holds 
that  rarest  jewel,  the  teacher's  gift,  can  uplift  a  whole 
community,"  said  the  captain,  with  enthusiasm.  "  I 
see  now  the  cause  of  such  difference  between  your 
own  and  other  early  planted  towns.  Master  Sullivan 
has  proved  himself  a  nobler  prince  and  leader  than 
any  of  his  ancestry.  But  what  of  the  lady  ?  I  heard 
many  tales  of  him  before  I  possessed  the  pleasure 
of  his  acquaintance,  and  so  heard  them  with  indif 
ference." 

"  He  had  to  wife  a  pretty  child  of  the  ship's  com 
pany,  an  orphan  whom  he  befriended,  and  later  mar 
ried.  She  was  sprightly  and  of  great  beauty  in  her 
youth,  and  was  dowered  with  all  the  energy  in  practi 
cal  things  that  he  had  been  denied,"  said  the  judge. 
"  She  came  of  plain  peasant  stock,  but  the  poor  soul 
has  a  noble  heart.  She  flouts  his  idleness  at  one  mo 
ment,  and  bewails  their  poverty,  and  then  falls  on  her 
knees  to  worship  him  the  next,  and  is  as  proud  as  if 
she  had  married  the  lord  of  the  manor  at  home.  The 
master  lacked  any  true  companionship  until  he  bred  it 
for  himself.  It  has  been  a  solitary  life  and  hermitage 
for  either  an  Irish  adventurer  or  a  French  scholar  and 
courtier." 

"  The  master  can  rarely  be  tempted  now  from  the 
little  south  window  where  he  sits  with  his  few  books," 
said  Hamilton.  "  I  lived  neighbor  to  him  all  my  young 
days.  Not  long  ago  he  went  to  visit  his  son  James, 
and  walked  out  with  him  to  see  the  village  at  the  falls 
of  the  Saco.  There  was  an  old  woman  lately  come 


26  THE  TORY  LOVER 

over  from  Ireland  with  lier  grandchildren  ;  they  said 
she  remembered  things  in  Charles  the  Second's  time, 
and  was  above  a  hundred  years  of  age.  James  Sulli 
van,  the  judge,  thinking  to  amuse  his  father,  stopped 
before  the  house,  and  out  came  the  old  creature,  and 
fell  upon  her  knees.  '  My  God  !  't  is  the  young  Prince 
of  Ardea ! '  says  she.  '  Oh,  I  mind  me  well  of  your 
lady  mother,  sir ;  't  was  in  Deny  I  was  born,  but  I 
lived  a  year  in  Ardea,  and  yourself  was  a  pretty  boy 
busy  with  your  courting  ! '  The  old  man  burst  into 
tears.  '  Let  us  go,  James,'  says  he,  '  or  this  will  break 
my  heart ! '  but  he  stopped  and  said  a  few  words  to 
her  in  a  whisper,  and  gave  the  old  body  his  blessing 
and  all  that  was  in  his  poor  purse.  He  would  listen 
to  her  no  more.  '  We  need  not  speak  of  youth,'  he 
told  her  ;  4  we  remember  it  only  too  well !  '  A  man 
told  me  this  who  stood  by  and  heard  the  whole." 

"  'T  was  most  affecting ;  it  spurs  the  imagination," 
said  the  captain.  "  If  I  had  but  an  hour  to  spare  I 
should  ride  to  see  him  once  more,  even  by  night. 
You  will  carry  the  master  my  best  respects,  some  of 
you. 

"  One  last  glass,  gentlemen,  to  our  noble  cause ! 
We  may  never  sit  in  pleasant  company  again,"  he 
added,  and  they  all  rose  in  their  places  and  stood 
about  the  table. 

"  Hand  heigh,  my  old  auntie  used  to  say  to  me 
at  home.  Aim  high  's  the  English  of  it.  She  was 
of  the  bold  clan  of  the  MacDuffs,  and  't  is  my  own 
motto  in  these  anxious  days.  Good-by,  gentlemen 
all !  "  said  the  little  captain.  "  I  ask  for  your  kind 
wishes  and  your  prayers." 

They  all  looked  at  Hamilton,  and  then  at  one 
another,  but  nobody  took  it  upon  himself  to  speak,  so 


A  CHARACTER  OF  HONOR  27 

they  shook  hands  warmly  and  drank  their  last  toast 
in  silence  and  with  deep  feeling.  It  was  time  to 
join  the  ladies  ;  already  there  was  a  sound  of  music 
across  the  hall  in  a  great  room  which  had  been  cleared 
for  the  dancing. 


IV 

THE  FLOWERING  OF  WHOSE  FACE 

"  Dear  love,  for  nothing  less  than  thee 
Would  I  have  broke  this  happy  dream, 

Therefore  thou  wak'dst  me  wisely ;  yet 

My  dream  thou  breakest  not,  but  continuest  it." 

WHILE  the  guests  went  in  to  supper,  Mary  Hamil 
ton,  safe  in  the  shelter  of  friendly  shadows,  went  hurry 
ing  along  the  upper  hall  of  the  house  to  her  own  cham 
ber.  The  coming  moon  was  already  brightening  the 
eastern  sky,  so  that  when  she  opened  the  door  the  large 
room  with  its  white  hangings  was  all  dimly  lighted 
from  without,  and  she  could  see  the  figure  of  a  girl 
standing  at  one  of  the  windows. 

"  Oh,  you  are  here  !  "  she  cried,  with  sharp  anxiety, 
and  then  they  leaned  out  together,  with  their  arms 
about  each  other's  shoulders,  looking  down  at  the 
dark  cove  and  at  the  height  beyond  where  the  tops  of 
tall  pines  were  silvered  like  a  cloud.  They  could  hear 
the  men's  voices,  as  if  thoy  were  all  talking  together, 
in  the  room  below. 

Mary  looked  at  her  friend's  face  in  the  dim  light. 
There  were  some  who  counted  Miss  Elizabeth  Wyat 
as  great  a  beauty  as  Miss  Hamilton. 

"  Oh,  Betsey  dear,  I  can  hardly  bear  to  ask,  but 
tell  me  quick  now  what  you  have  heard !  I  must  go 
down  to  Peggy;  she  has  attempted  everything  for 
this  last  feast,  and  I  promised  her  to  trim  the  game 


THE  FLOWERING  OF  WHOSE  FACE  29 

pie  for  its  proud  appearing,  and  the  great  plum  cake. 
One  of  her  maids  is  ill,  and  she  is  in  such  a  flurry  !  " 

"  'T  was  our  own  maids  talking,"  answered  Betsey 
Wyat  slowly.  "  They  were  on  the  bleaching -green 
with  their  linen  this  morning,  the  sun  was  so  hot,  and 
I  was  near  by  among  the  barberry  bushes  in  the  gar 
den.  Thankful  Grant  was  sobbing,  in  great  distress. 
She  said  that  her  young  man  had  put  himself  in 
danger ;  he  was  under  a  vow  to  come  out  with  the 
mob  from  Dover  any  night  now  that  the  signal  called 
them,  to  attack  Madam  Wallingford's  house  and 
make  Mr.  Roger  declare  his  principles.  They  were 
sure  he  was  a  Tory  fast  enough,  and  they  meant  to 
knock  the  old  nest  to  pieces ;  they  are  bidden  to  be 
ready  with  their  tools ;  their  axes,  she  said,  and  some 
thing  for  a  torch.  Thankful  begged  him  to  feign 
illness,  but  he  said  he  did  not  dare,  and  would  go  with 
the  rest  at  any  rate.  She  said  she  fronted  him  with 
the  remembrance  how  madam  had  paid  his  wages  all 
last  summer  when  he  was  laid  by,  though  the  hurt  he 
got  was  not  done  in  her  service,  but  in  breaking  his 
own  colt  on  a  Sunday.  Yet  nothing  changed  him; 
he  said  he  was  all  for  Liberty,  and  would  not  play 
the  sneak  now." 

"  Oh,  how  cruel !  when  nobody  has  been  so  kind 
and  generous  as  Madam  Wallingford,  so  full  of  kind 
thought  for  the  poor !  "  exclaimed  Many.  "  And 
Roger  "- 

"He  would  like  it  better  if  you  thought  first  of 
him,  not  of  his  mother,"  said  Betsey  Wyat  reproach 
fully. 

"  What  can  be  done  ?  It  may  be  this  very  night," 
said  Mary,  in  a  voice  of  despair. 

"  The  only  thing  left  is  to  declare  his  principles. 


30  THE  TORY  LOVER 

Things  have  gone  so  far  now,  they  will  never  give 
him  any  peace.  Many  have  come  to  the  belief  that 
he  is  in  close  league  with  our  enemies." 

"  That  he  has  never  been  !  "  said  Mary  hotly. 

"  He  must  prove  it  to  the  doubting  Patriots,  then ; 
so  my  father  says." 

"  But  not  to  a  mob  of  rascals,  who  will  be  disap 
pointed  if  they  cannot  vex  their  betters,  and  ruin  an 
innocent  woman's  home,  and  spoil  her  peace  only  to 
show  their  power.  Oh,  Betsey,  what  in  the  world 
shall  we  do  ?  There  is  no  place  left  for  those  who 
will  take  neither  side.  Oh,  help  me  to  think  what 
we  shall  do ;  the  mob  may  be  there  this  very  night ! 
There  was  a  strange  crowd  about  the  Landing  just 
now,  when  the  captain  came.  I  dare  not  send  any  one 
across  the  river  with  such  a  message  but  old  CaBsar 
or  Peggy,  and  they  are  not  to  be  spared  from  the 
house.  I  trust  none  of  the  younger  people,  black  or 
white,  when  it  comes  to  this." 

"  But  he  was  safe  in  Portsmouth  to-day  ;  they  will 
watch  for  his  being  at  home ;  it  will  not  be  to-night, 
then,"  said  Betsey  Wyat  hopefully.  "I  think  that 
he  should  have  spoken  long  ago,  if  only  to  protect  his 
mother." 

"  Get  ready  now,  dear  Betty,  and  make  yourself 
very  fine,"  said  Mary  at  last.  "The  people  will  all 
be  coming  for  the  dance  long  before  supper  is  done. 
My  brother  was  angry  when  I  told  him  I  should  not 
sit  at  the  table,  but  I  could  not.  There  is  nobody  to 
make  it  gay  afterward  with  our  beaux  all  gone  to  the 
army ;  but  Captain  Paul  Jones  begged  hard  for  some 
dancing,  and  all  the  girls  are  coming,  —  the  Hills  and 
Hights,  and  the  Lords  from  Somersworth.  I  must 
manage  to  tell  my  brother  of  this  danger,  but  to  openly 


THE  FLOWERING  OF  WHOSE  FACE  31 

protect  Madam  Wallingford  would  be  openly  taking 
the  wrong  side,  and  who  will  follow  him  in  such  a 
step?" 

"  I  could  not  pass  the  great  window  on  the  stairs 
without  looking  out  in  fear  that  Madam's  house  would 
be  all  ablaze,"  whispered  Betsey  Wyat,  shuddering. 
"  There  have  been  such  dreadful  things  done  against 
the  Tories  in  Salem  and  Boston  !  " 

"  My  heart  is  stone  cold  with  fear,"  said  Mary 
Hamilton;  "yet  if  it  only  does  not  come  to-night, 
there  may  be  something  done." 

There  was  a  silence  between  the  friends  ;  they  clung 
to  each  other ;  it  was  not  the  first  time  that  youth  and 
beauty  knew  the  harsh  blows  of  war.  The  loud  noise 
of  the  river  falls  came  beating  into  the  room,  echoing 
back  from  the  high  pines  across  the  water. 

"  We  must  make  us  fine,  dear,  and  get  ready  for 
the  dancing ;  I  have  no  heart  for  it  now,  I  am  so 
frightened,"  said  Mary  sadly.  "  But  get  you  ready  ; 
we  must  do  the  best  we  can." 

"  You  are  the  only  one  who  can  do  anything,"  said 
little  Betsey  Wyat,  holding  her  back  a  moment  from 
the  door.  They  were  both  silent  again  as  a  great 
peal  of  laughter  sounded  from  below.  Just  then  the 
moon  came  up,  clear  of  the  eastern  hill,  and  flooded  all 
the  room. 


THE   CHALLENGE 
"  Thou  source  of  all  my  bliss  and  all  my  woe." 

AN  hour  later  there  was  a  soft  night  wind  blow 
ing  through  the  garden  trees,  flavored  with  the  salt 
scent  of  the  tide  and  the  fragrance  of  the  upland  pas 
tures  and  pine  woods.  Mary  Hamilton  came  alone  to 
a  great  arched  window  of  the  drawing-room.  The 
lights  were  bright,  the  house  looked  eager  for  its 
gayeties,  and  there  was  a  steady  sound  of  voices  at 
the  supper,  but  she  put  them  all  behind  her  with 
impatience.  She  stood  hesitating  for  a  moment,  and 
then  sat  down  on  the  broad  window  seat  to  breathe 
the  pleasant  air.  Betsey  "Wyat  in  the  north  parlor 
was  softly  touching  the  notes  of  some  old  country 
song  on  the  spinet. 

The  young  mistress  of  the  house  leaned  her  head 
wearily  on  her  hand  as  she  looked  down  the  garden 
terraces  to  the  river.  She  wished  the  long  evening 
were  at  an  end,  but  she  must  somehow  manage  to  go 
through  its  perils  and  further  all  the  difficult  gayeties 
of  the  hour.  She  looked  back  once  into  the  hand 
some  empty  room,  and  turned  again  toward  the  quiet 
garden.  Below,  on  the  second  terrace,  it  was  dark 
with  shadows;  there  were  some  huge  plants  of  box  that 
stood  solid  and  black,  while  the  rosebushes  and  young 
peach-trees  were  but  a  gray  mist  of  twigs.  At  the  end 


THE  CHALLENGE  33 

of  the  terrace  were  some  thick  lilacs  with  a  few  leaves 
still  clinging  in  the  mild  weather  to  shelter  a  man  who 
stood  there,  watching  Mary  Hamilton  as  she  watched 
the  shadows  and  the  brightening  river. 

There  was  the  sharp  crying  of  a  violin  from  the 
slaves'  dwellings  over  beyond  the  house.  It  was  plain 
to  any  person  of  experience  that  the  brief  time  of  rest 
and  informality  after  the  evening  feast  would  soon  be 
over,  and  that  the  dancing  was  about  to  begin.  The 
call  of  the  fiddle  seemed  to  have  been  heard  not  only 
through  the  house,  but  in  all  its  neighborhood.  There 
were  voices  coming  down  the  hill  and  a  rowboat  round 
ing  the  point  with  a  merry  party.  From  the  rooms 
above,  gay  voices  helped  to  break  the  silence,  while 
the  last  touches  were  being  given  to  high-dressed 
heads  and  gay-colored  evening  gowns.  But  Mary 
Hamilton  did  not  move  until  she  saw  a  tall  figure 
step  out  from  among  the  lilacs  into  the  white  moon 
light  and  come  quickly  along  the  lower  terrace  and 
up  the  steps  toward  the  window  where  she  was  sitting. 
It  was  Mr.  Roger  Wallingford. 

"I  must  speak  with  you,"  said  he,  forgetting  to 
speak  softly  in  his  eagerness.  "  I  waited  for  a  minute 
to  be  sure  there  was  nobody  with  you ;  I  am  in  no  trim 
to  make  one  of  your  gay  company  to-night.  Quick, 
Mary  ;  I  must  speak  to  you  alone  !  " 

The  girl  had  started  as  one  does  when  a  face  comes 
suddenly  out  of  the  dark.  She  stood  up  and  pushed 
away  the  curtain  for  a  moment  and  looked  behind  her, 
then  shrank  into  a  deep  alcove  at  the  side,  within  the 
arch.  She  stepped  forward  next  moment,  and  held 
the  window-sill  with  one  hand  as  if  she  feared  to  let 
go  her  hold.  The  young  man  bent  his  head  and  kissed 
her  tense  fingers. 


34  THE  TORY  LOVER 

"  I  cannot  talk  with  you  now.  You  are  sure  to  be 
found  here;  I  hoped  that  you  were  still  in  Portsmouth. 
Go,  —  it  is  your  only  safety  to  go  away !  "  she  pro 
tested. 

"  What  has  happened  ?  Oh,  come  out  to  me  for  a 
moment,  Mary,"  he  answered,  speaking  quietly  enough, 
but  with  much  insistence  in  his  imploring  tone.  "  I 
must  see  you  to-night ;  it  is  my  only  chance." 

She  nodded  and  warned  him  back,  and  tossed  aside 
the  curtain,  turning  again  toward  the  lighted  room, 
where  sudden  footsteps  had  startled  her. 

There  were  several  guests  coming  in,  a  little  per 
plexed,  to  seek  their  hostess,  but  the  slight  figure  of 
Captain  Paul  Jones  in  his  brilliant  uniform  was  first 
at  hand.  The  fair  head  turned  toward  him  riot  with 
out  eagerness,  and  the  watcher  outside  saw  his  lady 
smile  and  go  readily  away.  It  was  hard  enough  to 
have  patience  outside  in  the  moonlight  night,  until  the 
first  country  dances  could  reach  their  weary  end.  He 
stood  for  a  moment  full  in  the  light  that  shone  from 
the  window,  his  heart  beating  within  him  in  heavy 
strokes,  and  then,  as  if  there  were  no  need  of  prudence, 
went  straight  along  the  terrace  to  the  broad  grassy 
court  at  the  house's  front.  There  was  a  white  balus 
trade  along  the  farther  side,  at  the  steep  edge  of  the 
bank,  and  he  passed  the  end  of  it  and  went  a  few 
steps  down.  The  river  shone  below  under  the  elms, 
the  tide  was  just  at  the  beginning  of  its  full  flood, 
there  was  a  short  hour  at  best  before  the  ebb.  Roger 
Wallingford  folded  his  arms,  and  stood  waiting  with 
what  plain  patience  he  could  gather.  The  shrill  music 
jarred  harshly  upon  his  ear. 

The  dancing  went  on ;  there  were  gay  girls  enough, 
but  little  Betsey  Wyat,  that  dear  and  happy  heart, 


THE   CHALLENGE  35 

had  only  solemn  old  Jack  Hamilton  to  her  partner, 
and  pretty  Martha  Hill  was  coquetting  with  the  vener 
able  judge.  These  were  also  the  works  of  war,  and 
some  of  the  poor  lads  who  had  left  their  ladies,  to  fight 
for  the  rights  of  the  colonies,  would  never  again  tread 
a  measure  in  the  great  room,  at  Hamilton's.  Perhaps 
Roger  Wallingford  himself  might  not  take  his  place 
at  the  dancing  any  more.  He  walked  to  and  fro  with 
his  eyes  ever  upon  the  doorway,  and  two  by  two  the 
company  came  in  turn  to  stand  there  and  to  look  out 
upon  the  broad  river  and  the  moon.  The  fiddles  had 
a  trivial  sound,  and  the  slow  night  breeze  and  the 
heavy  monotone  of  the  falls  mocked  at  them,  while 
from  far  down  the  river  there  came  a  cry  of  herons 
disturbed  in  their  early  sleep  about  the  fishing  weirs, 
and  the  mocking  laughter  of  a  loon.  Nature  seemed 
to  be  looking  on  contemptuously  at  the  silly  pleasan 
tries  of  men.  Nature  was  aware  of  graver  things  than 
fiddles  and  the  dance ;  it  seemed  that  night  as  if  the 
time  for  such  childish  follies  had  passed  forever  from 
the  earth. 

There  must  have  been  many  a  moment  when  Mary 
Hamilton  could  have  slipped  away,  and  a  cold  impa 
tience  vexed  the  watcher's  heart.  At  last,  looking  up 
toward  the  bright  house,  his  eyes  were  held  by  a  light 
figure  that  was  coming  round  from  the  courtyard  that 
lay  between  the  house  and  its  long  row  of  outbuildings. 
He  was  quickly  up  the  bank,  but  the  figure  had  already 
flitted  across  the  open  space  a  little  way  beyond. 

"  Roger !  "  he  heard  her  call  to  him.  "  Where  are 
you  ?  "  and  he  hurried  along  the  bank  to  meet  her. 

"  Let  us  go  farther  down,"  she  said  sharply  ;  "  they 
may  find  us  if  they  come  straying  out  between  the 
dances  to  see  the  moon;"  and  she  passed  him  quickly, 


36  THE  TORY  LOVER 

running  down  the  bank  and  out  beyond  the  edge  of 
the  elm-trees'  shadow  to  the  great  rock  that  broke  the 
curving  shore.  Here  she  stood  and  faced  him,  against 
the  wide  background  of  the  river ;  her  dress  glimmered 
strangely  white,  and  he  could  see  the  bright  paste 
buckle  in  one  of  her  dancing-shoes  as  the  moonlight 
touched  her.  He  came  a  step  nearer,  perplexed  by 
such  silence  and  unwonted  coldness,  but  waited  for 
her  to  speak,  though  he  had  begged  this  moment  for 
his  own  errand. 

"  What  do  you  want,  Roger  ? "  she  asked  impa 
tiently  ;  but  the  young  man  could  not  see  that  she  was 
pressing  both  hands  against  her  heart.  She  was  out 
of  breath  and  excited  as  she  never  had  been  before, 
but  she  stood  there  insistent  as  he,  and  held  herself 
remote  in  dignity  from  their  every-day  ease  and  life 
long  habit  of  companionship. 

"  Oh,  Mary !  "  said  young  Eoger,  his  voice  breaking 
with  the  uncertainty  of  his  sorrow,  "  have  you  no  kind 
word  for  me  ?  I  have  had  a  terrible  day  in  Ports 
mouth,  and  I  came  to  tell  you  ;  "  but  still  she  did  not 
speak,  and  he  hung  his  head. 

"  Forgive  me,  dear,"  he  said,  "  I  do  not  understand 
you ;  but  whatever  it  is,  forgive  me,  so  we  may  be 
friends  again." 

"  I  forgive  you,"  said  the  girl.  "How  is  it  with 
your  own  conscience  ;  can  you  find  it  so  easy  to  forgive 
yourself  ?  " 

"  I  am  ashamed  of  nothing,"  said  Wallingford,  and 
he  lifted  his  handsome  head  proudly  and  gazed  at 
her  in  wonder.  "  But  tell  me  my  fault,  and  I  shall  do 
my  best  to  mend.  Perhaps  a  man  in  such  love  and 
trouble  as  I  "  — 

"You  shall  not  speak  to  me  of  love,"  said  Mary 


THE  CHALLENGE  37 

Hamilton,  drawing  back ;  then  she  came  nearer  with 
a  reckless  step,  as  if  to  show  him  how  little  she  thought 
of  his  presence.  "  You  are  bringing  sorrow  and  dan 
ger  to  those  who  should  count  upon  your  manliness. 
In  another  hour  your  mother's  house  may  be  in  flames. 
Do  not  speak  to  me  of  your  poor  scruples  any  more ; 
and  as  for  love  "  — 

"  But  it  is  all  I  have  to  say !  "  pleaded  the  young 
man.  "It  is  all  my  life  and  thought !  I  do  not  know 
what  you  mean  by  these  wild  tales  of  danger.  I  am 
not  going  to  be  driven  away  from  my  rights  ;  I  must 
stand  my  own  ground." 

"  Give  me  some  proof  that  you  are  your  country's 
friend  and  not  her  foe.  I  am  tired  of  the  old  argu 
ments  !  I  am  the  last  to  have  you  cry  upon  patriot 
ism  because  you  are  afraid.  I  cannot  tell  you  all 
I  know,  but,  indeed,  there  is  danger;  I  beg  you  to 
declare  yourself  now ;  this  very  night !  Oh,  Roger, 
it  is  the  only  way  !  "  and  Mary  could  speak  no  more. 
She  was  trembling  with  fright  and  passion  ;  something 
shook  her  so  that  she  could  hardly  give  sound  to  her 
voice  ;  all  her  usual  steadiness  was  gone. 

"  My  love  has  come  to  be  the  whole  of  life,"  said 
Eoger  Wallingf ord  slowly.  "  I  am  here  to  show  you 
how  much  I  love  you,  though  you  think  that  I  have 
been  putting  you  to  shame.  All  day  I  have  been 
closeted  with  Mr.  Langdon  and  his  officers  in  Ports 
mouth.  I  have  told  them  the  truth,  that  my  heart  and 
my  principles  were  all  against  this  war,  and  I  would 
not  be  driven  by  any  man  living ;  but  I  have  come  to 
see  that  since  there  is  a  war  and  a  division  my  place 
is  with  my  countrymen.  Listen,  dear  !  I  shall  take 
your  challenge  since  you  throw  it  down,"  and  his  face 
grew  hard  and  pale.  "  I  am  going  to  sail  on  board 


38  THE  TORY  LOVER 

the  Kanger,  and  she  sails  to-morrow.  There  was  a 
commission  still  in  Mr.  Langdon's  hands,  and  he  gave 
it  me,  though  your  noble  captain  took  it  upon  himself 
to  object.  I  have  been  ready  to  give  it  up  at  every 
step  when  I  was  alone  again,  riding  home  from  Ports 
mouth  ;  I  could  not  beg  any  man's  permission,  and  we 
parted  in  a  heat.  Now  I  go  to  say  farewell  to  my  poor 
mother,  and  I  fear  't  will  break  her  heart.  I  can  even 
make  my  peace  with  the  commander,  if  it  is  your 
pleasure.  Will  this  prove  to  you  that  I  am  a  true 
American  ?  I  came  to  tell  you  this." 

"  To-morrow,  to  sail  on  board  the  Eanger,"  she  re 
peated  under  her  breath.  She  gave  a  strange  sigh  of 
relief,  and  looked  up  at  the  lighted  house  as  if  she 
were  dreaming.  Then  a  thought  came  over  her  and 
turned  her  sick  with  dread.  If  Paul  Jones  should  re 
fuse  ;  if  he  should  say  that  he  dared  not  risk  the  pre 
sence  of  a  man  who  was  believed  to  be  so  close  to  the 
Tory  plots !  The  very  necessities  of  danger  must  hold 
her  resolute  while  she  shrank,  womanlike,  from  the 
harsh  immediateness  of  decision.  For  if  Paul  Jones 
should  refuse  this  officer,  and  being  in  power  should 
turn  him  back  at  the  very  last,  there  lay  ready  the 
awful  opportunity  of  the  mob,  and  Roger  Wallingf ord 
was  a  ruined  man  and  an  exile  from  that  time. 

"  You  shall  not  give  one  thought  to  that  adven 
turer  ! "  cried  the  angry  lover,  whose  quick  instinct 
knew  where  Mary's  thoughts  had  gone.  "  He  has 
boldness  enough,  but  only  for  his  own  advance.  He 
makes  light  jokes  of  those  "  — 

"  Stop  ;  I  must  hear  no  more !  "  said  the  young 
queen  coldly.  "  It  would  ill  befit  you  now.  Farewell 
for  the  present ;  I  go  to  speak  with  the  captain.  I 
have  duties  to  my  guests ; "  but  the  tears  shone  in  her 


THE   CHALLENGE  39 

eyes.  She  was  for  flitting  past  him  like  a  fawn,  as 
they  climbed  the  high  bank  together.  The  pebbles 
rattled  down  under  their  hurrying  feet,  and  the  dry 
elm  twigs  snapped  as  if  with  fire,  but  Walliiigford 
kept  close  at  her  side. 

"  Oh,  my  darling !  "  he  said,  and  his  changed  voice 
easily  enough  touched  her  heart  and  made  her  stand 
still.  "  Do  not  forgive  me,  then,  until  you  have  better 
reason  to  trust  me.  Only  do  not  say  that  I  must  never 
speak.  We  may  be  together  now  for  the  last  time  ;  I 
may  never  see  you  again." 

"  If  you  can  bear  you  like  a  man,  if  you  can  take  a 
man's  brave  part  "  —  and  again  her  voice  fell  silent. 

"  Then  I  may  come  ?  " 

"  Then  you  may  come,  Mr.  Wallingford,"  she  an 
swered  proudly. 

For  one  moment  his  heart  was  warm  with  the  hap 
piness  of  hope,  —  she  herself  stood  irresolute,  —  but 
they  heard  heavy  footsteps,  and  she  was  gone  from  his 
vision  like  a  flash  of  light. 

Then  the  pain  and  seizure  of  his  fate  were  upon  him, 
the  break  with  his  old  life  and  all  its  conditions.  Love 
would  now  walk  ever  by  his  side,  though  Mary  Hamil 
ton  herself  had  gone.  She  had  not  even  given  him 
her  dear  hand  at  parting. 


VI 


THE  CAPTAIN   SPEAKS 

"The  Hous  of  Fame  to  descrive, — 
Thou  shalt  see  me  go  as  blyve 
Unto  the  next  laure  I  see 
And  kisse  it,  for  it  is  thy  tree." 

AT  this  moment  the  drawing-room  was  lively 
enough,  whatever  anxieties  might  have  been  known 
under  the  elms,  and  two  deep-arched  windows  on  either 
side  of  the  great  fireplace  were  rilled  with  ladies  who 
looked  on  at  the  dancing.  A  fine  group  of  elderly  gen 
tlewomen,  dressed  in  the  highest  French  fashion  of 
five  years  back,  sat  together,  with  nodding  turbans  and 
swaying  fans,  and  faced  the  doorway  as  Miss  Ham 
ilton  came  in.  They  had  begun  to  comment  upon 
her  absence,  but  something  could  be  forgiven  a  young 
hostess  who  might  be  having  a  thoughtful  eye  to  her 
trays  of  refreshment. 

There  was  still  an  anxious  look  on  many  faces,  as  if 
this  show  of  finery  and  gayety  were  out  of  keeping 
with  the  country's  sad  distresses.  Though  Hamilton, 
like  Nero,  fiddled  while  Rome  was  burning,  everybody 
had  come  to  look  on  :  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne  had 
put  new  heart  into  everybody,  and  the  evening  was  a 
pleasant  relief  to  the  dark  apprehension  and  cheerless 
economies  of  many  lives.  Most  persons  were  rich  in 
anticipation  of  the  success  of  Paul  Jones's  enterprise  ; 
as  if  he  were  a  sort  of  lucky  lottery  in  which  every 
one  was  sure  of  a  handsome  prize.  The  winning  of 


THE  CAPTAIN  SPEAKS  41 

large  prize  money  in  the  capture  of  richly  laden  Brit 
ish  vessels  had  already  been  a  very  heartening  incident 
of  this  most  difficult  and  dreary  time  of  war. 

When  Mary  Hamilton  came  in,  there  happened  to 
be  a  pause  between  the  dances,  and  an  instant  murmur 
of  delight  ran  from  chair  to  chair  of  those  who  were 
seated  about  the  room.  She  had  looked  pale  and 
downcast  in  the  early  evening,  but  was  rosy-cheeked 
now,  and  there  was  a  new  light  in  her  eyes  ;  it  seemed 
as  if  the  charm  of  her  beauty  had  never  shone  so 
bright.  She  crossed  the  open  space  of  the  floor,  uncon 
scious  as  a  child,  and  Captain  Paul  Jones  stepped  out 
to  meet  her.  The  pink  brocaded  flowers  of  her  shim 
mering  satin  gown  bloomed  the  better  for  the  evening 
air,  and  a  fall  of  splendid  lace  of  a  light,  frosty  pat 
tern  only  half  hid  her  white  throat.  It  was  her  bro 
ther's  pleasure  to  command  such  marvels  of  French 
gowns,  and  to  send  orders  by  his  captains  for  Mary's 
adorning ;  she  was  part  of  the  splendor  of  his  house, 
moreover,  and  his  heart  was  filled  with  perfect  satis 
faction  as  she  went  down  the  room. 

The  simpler  figures  of  the  first  dances  were  over, 
the  country  dances  and  reels,  and  now  Mr.  Lord  and 
Miss  Betsey  Wyat  took  their  places  with  Mary  and 
the  captain,  and  made  their  courtesies  at  the  beginning 
of  an  old  French  dance  of  great  elegance  which  was 
known  to  be  the  favorite  of  the  old  Judge.  They 
stood  before  him  in  a  pretty  row,  like  courtiers  who 
would  offer  pleasure  to  their  rightful  king,  and  made 
their  obeisance,  all  living  color  and  fine  clothes  and 
affectionate  intent.  The  captain  was  scarcely  so  tall 
as  his  partner,  but  gallant  enough  in  his  uniform,  and 
took  his  steps  with  beautiful  grace  and  the  least  fling 
of  carelessness,  while  Mr.  John  Lord  moved  with  the 


42  THE   TORY  LOVER 

precision  of  a  French  abbe,  always  responsible  for 
outward  decorum  whatever  might  be  the  fire  within 
his  heart. 

The  captain  was  taking  his  fill  of  pleasure  for  once ; 
he  had  danced  many  a  time  with  Mary  Hamilton, 
that  spring,  in  the  great  houses  of  Portsmouth  and 
York,  and  still  oftener  here  in  Berwick,  where  he  had 
never  felt  his  hostess  so  charming  or  so  approach 
able  as  to-night.  At  last,  when  the  music  stopped, 
they  left  the  room  together,  while  their  companions 
were  still  blushing  at  so  much  applause,  and  went  out 
through  the  crowded  hall.  There  was  a  cry  of  admi 
ration  as  they  passed  among  the  guests  ;  they  were  car 
ried  on  the  swift  current  of  this  evident  delight  and 
their  own  excitement.  It  is  easy  for  any  girl  to  make 
a  hero  of  a  gallant  sailor,  —  for  any  girl  who  is  wholly 
a  patriot  at  heart  to  do  honor  to  the  cordial  ally  of  her 
country. 

They  walked  together  out  of  the  south  door,  where 
Mary  had  so  lately  entered  alone,  and  went  across  the 
broad  terrace  to  the  balustrade  which  overhung  the 
steep  bank  of  the  river.  Mary  Hamilton  was  most 
exquisite  to  see  in  the  moonlight ;  her  dress  softened 
and  shimmered  the  more,  and  her  eyes  had  a  bright 
ness  now  that  was  lost  in  the  lighted  room.  The  cap 
tain  was  always  a  man  of  impulse  ;  in  one  moment 
more  he  could  have  dared  to  kiss  the  face  that  shone, 
eager,  warm,  and  blooming  like  a  flower,  close  to  his 
own.  He  was  not  unskilled  in  love-making,  but  he 
had  never  been  so  fettered  by  the  spell  of  love  itself 
or  the  royalty  of  beauty  as  he  was  that  night. 

"  This  air  is  very  sweet  after  an  arduous  day,"  said 
he,  looking  up  for  an  instant  through  the  elm  boughs 
to  the  moon. 


THE   CAPTAIN  SPEAKS  43 

"  You  must  be  much  fatigued,  Sir  Captain,"  said 
Mary  kindly  ;  she  looked 'at  the  moon  longer  than  he, 
but  looked  at  him  at  last. 

"  '  No,  noble  mistress,  't  is  fresh  morning  with  me,'  " 
he  answered  gently,  and  added  the  rest  of  the  lovely 
words  under  his  breath,  as  if  he  said  them  only  to 
himself. 

"  I  think  that  you  will  never  have  any  mistress  save 
Glory,"  said  Mary.  She  knew  The  Tempest,  too  ; 
but  this  brave  little  man,  this  world-circling  sailor, 
what  Calibans  and  Ariels  might  he  not  have  known  ! 

"  This  is  my  last  night  on  land,"  he  answered,  with 
affecting  directness.  "  Will  you  bid  me  go  my  lonely 
way  unblest,  or  shall  I  dare  to  say  what  is  in  my  heart 
now,  my  dear  and  noble  mistress  ?  " 

Mary  looked  at  him  with  most  straightforward  ear 
nestness  as  he  spoke  ;  there  was  so  great  a  force  in  her 
shining  eyes  that  this  time  it  was  his  own  that  turned 
away. 

"  Will  you  do  a  great  kindness,  if  I  ask  you  now  ?  " 
she  begged  him  ;  and  he  promised  with  his  hand  upon 
his  heart. 

"  You  sail  to-morrow  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  your  image  shall  go  always  with  me,  and 
smile  at  me  in  a  thousand  gloomy  hours.  I  am  often 
a  sad  and  lonely  man  upon  the  sea." 

"  There  has  been  talk  of  Mr.  Wallingford's  taking 
the  last  commission." 

"  How  have  you  learned  what  only  a  few  trusted 
men  were  told  ?  "  the  captain  demanded  fiercely,  for 
getting  his  play  of  lover  in  a  jealous  guarding  of  high 
affairs. 

"  I  know,  and  by  no  man's  wrongful  betraying.  I 
give  you  my  deepest  proof  of  friendship  now,"  said  the 


44  THE  TORY  LOVER 

eager  girl.  "I  ask  now  if  you  will  befriend  our 
neighbor,  rny  dear  friend  and  playmate  in  childhood. 
He  has  been  much  misjudged  and  has  come  to  stand 
in  danger,  with  his  dear  mother  whom  I  love  almost 
as  my  own." 

"  Not  your  young  rascal  of  a  Tory ! "  the  captain 
interrupted,  in  a  towering  rage.  "  I  know  him  to  be  a 
rascal  and  a  spy,  madam  1  " 

"  A  loyal  gentleman  I  believe  him  in  my  heart,"  said 
Mary  proudly,  but  she  took  a  step  backward  as  they 
faced  each  other,  —  "a loyal  gentleman  who  will  serve 
our  cause  with  entire  devotion  since  he  gives  his  word. 
His  hesitations  have  been  the  fault  of  his  advisers, 
old  men  who  cannot  but  hold  to  early  prejudice  and 
narrow  views.  With  you  at  sea,  his  own  right  instincts 
must  be  confirmed  ;  he  will  serve  his  country  well.  I 
come  to  you  to  beg  from  my  very  heart  that  you  will 
stand  his  friend." 

She  stood  waiting  for  assurance :  there  was  a  lovely 
smile  on  her  face  ;  it  would  be  like  refusing  some  easy 
benefaction  to  a  child.  Mary  Hamilton  knew  her 
country's  troubles,  great  and  small ;  she  had  listened 
to  the  most  serious  plans  and  secret  conferences  at 
her  brother's  side :  but  the  captain  forgot  all  this,  and 
only  hated  to  crush  so  innocent  a  childish  hope.  He 
also  moved  a  step  backward,  with  an  impatient  ges 
ture  ;  she  did  not  know  what  she  was  asking ;  then, 
still  looking  at  her,  he  drew  nearer  than  before.  The 
captain  was  a  man  of  quick  decisions.  He  put  his 
arm  about  her  as  if  she  were  a  child  indeed.  She 
shrank  from  this,  but  stood  still  and  waited  for  him  to 
speak. 

"  My  dear,"  he  said,  speaking  eagerly,  so  that  she 
must  listen  and  would  not  draw  away,  "  my  dear,  you 


THE  CAPTAIN  SPEAKS  45 

ask  an  almost  impossible  thing ;  you  should  see  that  a 
suspected  man  were  better  left  ashore,  on  such  a  voy 
age  as  this.  Do  you  not  discern  that  he  may  even  turn 
my  crew  against  me  ?  He  has  been  the  young  squire 
and  benefactor  of  a  good  third  of  my  men,  and  can  you 
not  see  that  I  must  always  be  on  my  guard  ?  " 

"  But  we  must  not  distrust  his  word,"  begged  Mary 
again,  a  little  shaken. 

"  I  have  followed  the  sea,  boy  and  man,  since  I  was 
twelve  years  old.  I  have  been  a  seafarer  all  my  days," 
said  Paul  Jones.  "  I  know  all  the  sad  experiences  of 
human  nature  that  a  man  may  learn.  I  trust  no  man 
in  war  and  danger  and  these  days  of  self -advancement, 
so  far  that  I  am  not  always  on  the  alert  against  treach 
ery.  Too  many  have  failed  me  whom  I  counted  my 
sure  friends.  I  am  going  out  now,  only  half  trusted 
here  at  home,  to  the  coasts  where  treason  can  hurt  me 
most.  I  myself  am  still  a  suspected  and  envied  man 
by  those  beneath  me.  I  am  given  only  this  poor  ship, 
after  many  generous  promises.  I  fear  a  curse  goes 
with  it." 

"  You  shall  have  our  hopes  and  prayers,"  faltered 
Mary,  with  a  quivering  lip.  The  bitterness  of  his 
speech  moved  her  deepest  feelings;  she  was  over 
strung,  and  she  was  but  a  girl,  and  they  stood  in  the 
moonlight  together. 

"  Do  not  ask  me  again  what  I  must  only  deny  you, 
even  in  this  happy  moment  of  nearness,"  he  said  sadly, 
and  watched  her  face  fall  and  all  the  light  go  out  of 
it.  He  knew  all  that  she  knew,  and  even  more,  of 
Wallingford's  dangerous  position,  and  pitied  her  for  a 
single  moment  with  all  the  pity  that  belonged  to  his 
heart.  A  lonely  man,  solitary  in  his  very  nature,  and 
always  foreboding  with  a  kind  of  hopelessness  the  sor- 


46  THE  TORY  LOVER 

rows  that  must  fall  to  him  by  reason  of  an  unkindness 
that  his  nature  stirred  in  the  hearts  of  his  fellows,  his 
very  soul  had  lain  bare  to  her  trusting  look. 

He  stood  there  for  one  moment  self-arraigned  be 
fore  Mary  Hamilton,  and  knowing  that  what  he  lacked 
was  love.  He  was  the  captain  of  the  Ranger  ;  it  was 
true  that  Glory  was  his  mistress.  In  that  moment  the 
heavens  had  opened,  and  his  own  hand  had  shut  the 
gates. 

The  smile  came  back  to  Mary's  face,  so  strange 
a  flash  of  tenderness  had  brightened  his  own.  When 
that  unforgettable  light  went  out,  she  did  not  know 
that  all  the  jealousy  of  a  lonely  heart  began  to  burn 
within  him. 

"  I  have  changed  my  mind.  I  will  take  your  friend," 
he  said  suddenly,  with  a  new  tone  of  authority  and 
coldness.  "  And  I  shall  endeavor  to  remember  that 
he  is  your  friend.  May  I  win  your  faith  and  patience, 
't  is  a  hard  ploy." 

Then  Mary,  of  her  own  accord,  put  her  hand  into 
the  captain's  and  he  bent  and  kissed  it. 

"  I  shall  watch  a  star  in  the  sky  for  you  every 
night,"  she  told  him,  "and  say  my  prayers  for  the 
Ranger  till  you  come  sailing  home." 

"  God  grant  I  may  tread  the  deck  of  another  and  a 
better  ship,"  said  the  captain  hastily.  Now  he  was 
himself  again,  and  again  they  both  heard  the  music  in 
the  house. 

"  Will  you  keep  this  ring  for  me,  and  give  me 
yours  ? "  he  asked.  "  'T  will  be  but  a  talisman  to 
keep  me  to  my  best.  I  am  humble,  and  I  ask  no 
more." 

"  No,"  said  the  girl,  whose  awakened  feeling  as 
sured  her  of  his  own.  She  was  light-headed  with  hap- 


THE   CAPTAIN   SPEAKS  47 

piness  ;  she  could  have  thrown  herself  into  the  arms 
of  such  a  hero,  —  of  a  man  so  noble,  who  had  done  a 
hard  and  unwelcome  thing  for  her  poor  asking.  She 
had  failed  to  do  him  rightful  honor  until  now,  and 
this  beautiful  kindness  was  his  revenge.  "  No,"  she 
entreated  him,  "  not  your  own  ring  ;  you  have  done 
too  much  for  me  ;  but  if  you  wish  it,  I  shall  give  you 
mine.  'T  is  but  a  poor  ring  when  you  have  done  so 
great  a  kindness." 

She  gave  it  as  a  child  might  give  away  a  treasure  ; 
not  as  a  woman  gives,  who  loves  and  gives  a  ring  for 
token.  The  captain  sighed  ;  being  no  victor  after  all, 
his  face  grew  sombre.  He  must  try  what  a  great  con 
queror  might  do  when  he  came  back  next  year  with 
Glory  all  his  own ;  and  yet  again  he  lingered  to  plead 
with  her  once  more. 

"  Dear  Mary,"  he  said,  as  he  lifted  her  hand  again, 
"  you  will  not  forget  me  ?  I  shall  be  far  from  this  to 
morrow  night,  and  you  will  remember  that  a  wanderer 
like  me  must  sometimes  be  cruel  to  his  own  heart,  and 
cold  to  the  one  woman  he  truly  loves." 

Something  stirred  now  in  Mary  Hamilton's  breast 
that  had  always  slept  before,  and,  frightened  and  dis 
turbed,  she  drew  her  hand  away.  She  was  like  a 
snared  bird  that  he  could  have  pinched  to  death  a  mo 
ment  before  :  now  a  fury  of  disappointment  possessed 
him,  for  she  was  as  far  away  as  if  she  had  flown  into 
the  open  sky  beyond  his  reach. 

"  Glory  is  your  mistress ;  it  is  Glory  whom  you 
must  win,"  she  whispered,  thinking  to  comfort  him. 

"  When  I  come  back,"  he  said  sadly,  "  if  I  come 
back,  I  hope  that  you  will  have  a  welcome  for  me." 
He  spoke  formally  now,  and  there  was  a  haggard  look 
upon  his  face.  There  had  come  into  his  heart  a  strange 


48  THE  TORY  LOVER 

longing  to  forget  ambition.  The  thought  of  his  past 
had  strangely  afflicted  him  in  that  clear  moment  of 
life  and  vision ;  but  the  light  faded,  the  dark  current 
of  his  life  flowed  on,  and  there  was  no  reflection  upon 
it  of  Mary  Hamilton's  sweet  eyes.  "  If  I  carry  that 
cursed  young  Tory  away  to  sea,"  he  said  to  himself, 
"  I  shall  know  where  he  is ;  not  here,  at  any  rate,  to 
have  this  angel  for  his  asking  !  " 

They  were  on  their  way  to  the  house  again. 

"  Alas,"  said  Paul  Jones  once  more,  with  a  sad  bit 
terness  in  his  voice,  "  a  home  like  this  can  never  be 
for  me  :  the  Fates  are  my  enemies  ;  let  us  hope  't  is 
for  the  happiness  of  others  that  they  lure  me  on ! " 

Mary  cast  a  piteous,  appealing  glance  at  this  lonely 
hero.  He  was  no  more  the  Sea  Wolf  or  the  chief 
among  pleasure-makers  ashore,  but  an  unloved,  un 
loving  man,  conscious  of  heavy  burdens  and  vexed  by 
his  very  dreams.  At  least  he  could  remember  this  last 
kindness  and  her  grateful  heart. 

Colonel  Hamilton  was  standing  in  the  wide  hall 
with  a  group  of  friends  about  him.  Old  Caesar  and 
his  underservants  were  busy  with  some  heavy-laden 
silver  trays.  The  captain  approached  his  host  with 
outstretched  hands,  to  speak  his  farewells. 

"  I  must  be  off,  gentlemen.  I  must  take  my  boat," 
said  he,  in  a  manly  tone  that  was  heard  and  repeated 
along  the  rooms.  It  brought  many  of  the  company  to 
their  feet  and  to  surround  him,  with  a  new  sense  of 
his  high  commission  and  authority.  "  I  ask  again  for 
your  kind  wishes,  Colonel  Hamilton,  and  yours,  Mr. 
Justice,  and  for  your  blessing  on  my  voyage,  reverend 
sir ;  "  and  saluting  those  of  the  elder  ladies  who  had 
been  most  kind,  and  kissing  his  hand  to  some  younger 


THE   CAPTAIN  SPEAKS  49 

friends  and  partners  of  the  dance,  he  turned  to  go. 
Then,  with  his  fine  laced  hat  in  hand,  the  captain 
waved  for  silence  and  hushed  the  friendly  voices  that 
would  speak  a  last  word  of  confidence  in  his  high  suc 
cess. 

"  These  friends  of  his  and  mine  who  are  assembled 
here  should  know  that  your  neighbor,  Mr.  Walling- 
ford,  sails  with  me  in  the  morning.  I  count  my  crew 
well,  now,  from  your  noble  river !  Farewell,  dear 
ladies ;  farewell,  my  good  friends  and  gentlemen." 

There  was  a  sudden  shout  in  the  hushed  house,  and 
a  loud  murmur  of  talk  among  the  guests,  and  Hamil 
ton  himself  stepped  forward  and  began  to  speak  ex 
citedly  ;  but  the  captain  stayed  for  neither  question 
nor  answer,  and  they  saw  him  go  away  hurriedly,  bow 
ing  stiffly  to  either  hand  on  his  way  toward  the  door. 
Mary  had  been  standing  there,  with  a  proud  smile  and 
gentle  dignity  in  her  look  of  attendance,  since  they 
had  come  in  together,  and  he  stopped  one  moment 
more  to  take  her  hand  with  a  low  and  formal  bow,  to 
lift  it  to  his  lips,  and  give  one  quick  regretful  look 
at  her  happy  face.  Then  Hamilton  and  some  of  the 
younger  men  followed  him  down  through  the  gardens 
to  the  boat  landing.  The  fleet  tide  of  the  river  was 
setting  seaward ;  the  captain's  boat  swept  quickly  out 
from  shore,  and  the  oars  flashed  away  in  the  moon 
light.  There  were  ladies  on  the  terrace,  and  on  the 
broad  lookout  of  the  housetop  within  the  high  rail 
ing  ;  there  were  rounds  upon  rounds  of  cheers  from 
the  men  who  stood  on  the  shore,  black  and  white  to 
gether.  The  captain  turned  once  when  he  was  well 
out  into  the  river  bay  and  waved  his  hand.  It  was  as 
if  the  spectators  were  standing  on  the  edge  of  a  great 
future,  to  bid  a  hero  hail  and  farewell. 


50  THE   TORY  LOVER 

The  whole  countryside  was  awake  and  busy  in  the 
moonlight.  So  late  at  night  as  this  there  were  lights 
still  shining  in  one  low  farmhouse  after  another,  as  the 
captain  went  away.  The  large  new  boat  of  the  Ranger 
was  rowed  by  man-of-war's  men  in  trim  rig,  who  were 
leaving  their  homes  on  the  river  shores  for  perhaps 
the  last  time ;  a  second  boat  was  to  join  them  at  Stiles's 
Cove,  heaped  with  sea  chests  and  sailors'  bags.  The 
great  stream  lay  shining  and  still  under  the  moon, 
a  glorious  track  of  light  lay  ready  to  lead  them  on, 
and  the  dark  pines  stood  high  on  the  eastern  shore  to 
watch  them  pass.  The  little  captain,  wrapped  in  his 
boat  cloak,  sat  thoughtful  and  gloomy  at  the  stern. 
The  gold  lace  glittered  on  his  hat,  and  the  new  flag 
trailed  aft.  This  was  the  first  reach  of  a  voyage  that 
would  go  down  in  history.  He  was  not  familiar  with 
many  of  his  men,  but  in  this  hour  he  saw  their  young 
faces  before  him,  and  remembered  his  own  going  from 
home.  The  Scottish  bay  of  Carsethorn,  the  laird's 
house  at  Arbigland,  the  far  heights  of  the  Cumberland 
coast,  rose  again  to  the  vision  of  a  hopeful  young  ad 
venturer  to  Virginia  and  the  southern  seas. 

They  could  still  hear  the  music,  faint  and  far  away ; 
perhaps  the  girls  were  dancing  again,  and  not  weeping 
for  poor  Jack,  the  sailor ;  but  as  the  men  pulled  at 
their  oars,  light  in  the  channel's  flow,  and  looked  back 
at  the  bright  house,  they  saw  a  fire  shining  on  the 
shore  at  Hamilton's.  Word  had  been  passed  that  the 
captain  was  going  down;  the  crowd  had  gathered 
again ;  they  were  cheering  like  mad,  and  the  boys  in 
the  boat  yelled  themselves  hoarse,  while  some  one 
drifting  in  a  skiff  near  by  fired  a  heavy  pistol,  which 
roused  all  the  river  birds  and  echoed  in  the  river  pines 
from  shore  to  shore.  Huzza !  they  were  bringing 


THE   CAPTAIN  SPEAKS  51 

refuse  from  the  shipyard  now,  and  piling  it  on  the 
flame!  The  bonfire  towered  high,  and  lighted  the 
shipping  and  the  reefed  sails  of  the  gundalows.  The 
steep  roof  of  the  house  with  its  high  dormer  windows, 
the  leafless  elms,  were  all  like  glowing  gold  against  the 
blue  height  of  the  sky.  The  eagles  waked,  and  flew 
crying  above  the  river  in  the  strange  light.  Somebody 
was  swinging  a  lantern  from  the  roof  of  Hamilton 
house,  and  then  there  came  a  light  to  an  upper  window 
that  had  been  dark  before,  and  another,  and  another, 
till  all  the  great  house  was  lit  and  seemed  to  tower 
into  the  skies.  The  boat's  crew  leaned  upon  their 
oars,  drifting  and  losing  way  as  they  tried  to  shout  back. 
It  cheered  their  brave  hearts,  and  sent  them  gayly  on 
their  dark  journey  ;  a  moment  before  they  had  thought 
heavily  that  some  could  play  and  dance  ashore  while 
others  must  go  off  into  the  night,  leaving  all  but  the 
thought  of  Glory  behind  them. 

The  whole  river  country  was  up.  The  old  Piscata- 
qua  plantations  had  not  been  so  stirred  since  the  news 
came,  many  months  before,  of  the  peril  of  Boston  and 
the  fight  at  Lexington,  when  a  company  had  started 
from  Saco  and  marched  across  country,  gathering  like 
a  rolling  snowball  on  its  way,  and  with  Eben  Sullivan 
and  Nathan  Lord's  Berwick  men  had  reached  the  great 
Bunker  Hill  fight  in  good  season.  Captain  Moulton's 
company  had  taken  the  post  road  out  of  old  York  to 
join  them  ;  there  was  running  to  and  fro  in  the  country 
then,  and  a  frenzy  of  haste,  of  bawling  orders,  of  pite 
ous  leavetakings,  of  noisy  drums  and  fifes  and  all  the 
confusion  of  war.  But  this  was  felt  to  be  almost 
as  great  a  moment,  and  to  mark  a  still  bolder  chal 
lenge  to  the  foreign  foe.  There  were  bonfires  on  all 
the  river  points,  and  hardly  a  farmer  whose  beacon  did 


52  THE  TORY  LOVER 

not  answer  to  his  neighbor's.  There  were  shadowy 
groups  of  women  standing  on  the  high  banks  against 
the  dim  sky,  and  crying  shrill  farewells  to  the  boys  in 
the  boats  :  "  God  speed  the  Eanger  !  God  bless  you, 
Captain  Paul !  "  and  one  voice  after  another  took  up 
the  cry.  "  Good-by,  boys  !  Good-by,  boys  !  "  they 
heard  the  girls  calling  after  them  all  down  the  river, 
and  saw  new  firelights  brighten  as  they  came. 

The  boat  now  felt  the  swift  seagoing  current  more 
and  more ;  they  had  passed  High  Point  and  the  Devil's 
Reach  and  the  old  Hodgdon  Farm  and  the  mouth  of 
Dover  Eiver,  and  at  Hodgdon' s  Landing  they  had  taken 
off  young  Humphry  Lord  with  his  little  chest,  and  his 
mother's  tears  wet  upon  his  coat ;  they  swept  faster 
still  down  past  Dover  Point  and  the  mouth  of  Great 
Bay,  where  a  new  current  caught  them  again  like  a 
mill  race.  The  fires  were  bright  along  the  Kittery 
shore,  and  the  sound  of  old  Portsmouth  bells  came  up 
along  the  water,  and  soon  they  saw  the  lights  at  Rice's 
Ferry  and  all  the  leafless  forest  of  idle  shipping,  and 
came  at  last  to  the  dark  crank-looking  hull  of  the 
Ranger  lying  in  midstream. 


VII 

THE   SAILING   OF  THE  KANGER 

"  Go  you  with  your  Don  Quixote  to  your  adventures,  and  leave  us 
to  our  ill  fortunes  !  God  will  better  them  for  us  if  we  deserve  it !  " 

IT  was  a  gray,  cold  morning,  windy  and  wet  after 
the  mild  southerly  airs  of  the  night  before,,  When 
the  day  broke  and  the  heavy  clouds  changed  to  a  paler 
hue,  there  were  already  many  persons  to  be  seen  wait 
ing  on  the  Portsmouth  wharves.  There  was  a  subdued 
excitement  as  the  crowd  gathered,  and  the  hull  and 
heavy  spars  of  the  Ranger  out  in  the  gray  river  were 
hardly  imposing  enough  to  be  the  centre  of  such  gen 
eral  interest.  She  might  have  been  one  of  the  less 
noticeable  merchantmen  of  that  busy  port,  well  used 
to  its  tugging  tides  and  racing  currents,  and  looked 
like  a  clumsy  trading-vessel,  until  one  came  near 
enough  to  see  that  she  was  built  with  a  gun  deck,  and 
that  her  ports  were  the  many  shrewd  eyes  of  a  warship, 
bent  upon  aggression  as  well  as  defense. 

At  that  early  hour  there  was  a  continual  coming  and 
going  between  the  frigate  and  the  shore,  and  an  ever 
increasing  cluster  of  boats  surrounded  her.  There 
was  loud  shouting  on  the  river  and  from  the  pier 
heads,  and  now  and  then  a  round  of  cheers  from  some 
excited  portion  of  the  admiring  multitude.  There 
were  sad  partings  between  the  sailors  and  their  wives 
and  mothers  at  the  water's  edge,  and  there  were 
sudden  gusts  of  laughter  among  the  idle  lookers-on. 


54  THE  TORY  LOVER 

The  people  bad  come  out  of  the  houses  on  Badger's 
Island,  while  from  Newington  and  upper  Kittery 
the  wherries  were  coming  down  in  a  hurry,  most  of 
them  strongly  rowed  by  women  with  the  short  cross- 
handed  stroke  that  jerked  such  boats  steadily  ahead 
against  the  wind,  or  through  any  river  tide  or  set 
of  current.  The  old  market  women  bound  for  the 
Spring  Market  in  Portsmouth,  with  their  autumn 
freight  of  geese  and  chickens  and  high-priced  eggs, 
rested  on  their  crossed  oars,  and  waited  in  midstream 
to  see  what  came  of  this  great  excitement.  Though 
they  might  be  late  to  catch  the  best  of  their  early  traf 
fic,  some  of  them  drove  a  thriving  trade,  and  their 
hard  red  apples  were  tossed  from  boat  to  boat  by  rol 
licking  customers,  while  those  that  missed  their  aim 
went  bobbing,  gay  and  shining  on  the  cold  water,  out 
to  sea. 

The  tide  had  now  turned,  and  the  noise  of  voices 
grew  louder ;  there  was  a  cold  waft  of  air  from  the  ris 
ing  northerly  wind,  and  suddenly  everybody  heard  a 
shrill  whistle  on  the  ship  and  a  cheer,  and  there  was  a 
yell  from  the  tangled  boats,  before  those  on  shore  could 
see  that  the  Kanger's  men  were  lying  out  along  the 
yards,  and  her  sails  were  being  spread.  Then  there 
were  cheers  indeed;  then  there  were  handkerchiefs 
and  hats  a-waving  ;  then  every  boy  and  every  man 
who  wished  in  his  heart  to  go  and  fight  Great  Britain 
on  her  own  coasts  split  his  throat  with  trying  to  cheer 
louder  than  the  rest,  while  even  those  who  had  coun 
seled  prudence  and  delay  felt  the  natural  joy  of  seeing 
a  great  ship  spread  her  wings  to  go  to  sea. 

Almost  every  man  and  woman  who  looked  on  knew 
some  lad  or  man  who  was  sailing,  and  now  there  was 
great  shouting  and  running  near  the  slip  where  a  last 


THE  SAILING  OF  THE  RANGER  55 

boat  was  putting  off  in  haste.  There  was  a  young  man 
aboard  her,  and  many  persons  of  dignity  and  position 
were  bidding  him  farewell.  The  cheering  grew  louder ; 
at  that  moment  the  slow  bells  began  to  ring  in  St. 
John's  steeple  and  the  old  North  Church  ;  there  was 
not  a  man  who  knew  his  story  who  did  not  honor 
young  Mr.  Wallingford  for  his  bold  and  manly  step. 
Word  had  been  passed  that  he  had  taken  a  commission 
and  was  sailing  with  the  rest,  but  few  believed  it.  He 
was  bound  by  family  ties,  he  was  endangering  all  fu 
ture  inheritance  from  old  Loyalist  relatives  who  would 
rather  see  him  in  jail  than  bent  upon  this  thing :  the 
only  son  of  his  mother,  and  she  a  Tory  widow,  there 
were  reasons  enough  to  keep  any  hero  back  upon  the 
narrow  neutral  ground  that  still  remained.  And 
Roger  Wallingford  was  not  a  hero,  —  only  a  plain 
gentleman,  with  a  good  heart  and  steady  sense  of 
honor. 

He  talked  soberly  with  his  old  friends,  and  listened 
to  Mr.  Langdon's  instructions  and  messages  to  France, 
and  put  some  thick  letters  safely  into  the  pockets  of 
his  uniform,  which,  having  been  made  on  a  venture, 
with  those  for  other  officers,  fitted  him  but  awkwardly. 
As  he  stood  in  the  boat  nearing  the  frigate's  side, 
there  could  hardly  be  a  more  gallant-looking  fellow  of 
his  age.  There  was  in  his  face  all  the  high  breeding 
and  character  of  his  house,  with  much  personal  cour 
age  and  youthful  expectancy.  A  handsome  sword 
that  had  been  his  grandfather's  hung  heavy  from  the 
belt  that  dragged  at  his  thin  waist,  and  furrowed  deep 
the  stiff  new  cloth  of  his  coat.  More  than  one  rough- 
cheeked  market  woman,  in  that  bitter  morning  air, 
felt  an  unwonted  slackening  in  her  throat,  and  could 
not  speak,  but  blessed  him  over  and  over  in  her  warm 


56  THE   TORY  LOVER 

heart,  as  her  tears  sprung  quick  to  blur  this  last  sight 
of  young  Wallingford  going  to  the  wars.  Here  was  a 
chapter  of  romance,  though  some  things  in  the  great 
struggle  with  England  were  prosaic  enough ;  there  was 
as  much  rebellion  now  against  raising  men  and  money 
as  there  had  ever  been  against  the  Stamp  Act  or  the 
hated  duties.  The  states  were  trying  to  excuse  them 
selves,  and  to  extort  from  one  another ;  the  selfish  and 
cold-hearted  are  ever  to  be  pushed  forward  to  their 
public  duties,  and  here  in  Portsmouth  the  patriots  had 
many  a  day  grown  faint-hearted  with  despair. 

The  anchor  broke  ground  at  last ;  the  Ranger  swung 
free  and  began  to  drift ;  the  creak  of  the  cables  and 
the  chanty  that  helped  to  wind  them  mingled  now  with 
the  noise  of  church  bells  and  the  firing  of  guns  on  the 
seaward  forts  at  Newcastle.  As  Wallingford  went  up 
the  vessel's  side  and  stepped  to  the  deck,  it  happened 
that  the  Ranger  fired  her  own  parting  gun,  and  the 
powder  smoke  blew  thick  in  his  face.  When  it  cleared 
away  he  saw  the  captain  close  beside  him,  and  made 
his  proper  salute.  Then  he  turned  quickly  for  a  last 
glimpse  of  his  friends  ;  the  boat  was  still  close  under 
the  quarter,  and  they  waved  to  him  and  shouted  last 
words  that  he  could  not  hear.  They  had  been  his 
father's  friends,  every  one,  —  they  wished  to  be  going 
too,  those  good  gentlemen ;  it  was  a  splendid  errand, 
and  they  were  all  brave  men. 

"  Mr.  Langdon  and  his  friends  bade  me  say  to  you 
and  to  Lieutenant  Simpson  that  they  meant  to  come 
aboard  again,  sir  ;  they  were  sorry  to  be  too  late ;  they 
would  have  me  take  breakfast  and  wait  while  they  fin 
ished  these  last  dispatches  which  they  send  you  for 
Mr.  Franklin  and  Mr.  Adams.  I  was  late  from  home ; 
it  has  been  a  sudden  start  for  me,"  said  the  young  man 


THE   SAILING  OF  THE   RANGER  57 

impulsively.  "  I  thank  you  for  your  welcome  mes 
sage,  which  I  got  at  two  o'clock  by  the  courier,"  he 
added,  with  a  wistful  appeal  in  the  friendliness  of  his 
tone,  as  one  gentleman  might  speak  with  another  in 
such  case. 

"  I  had  further  business  with  them !  "  exclaimed 
the  superior  officer.  "  They  owed  it  to  me  to  board 
me  long  ago,  instead  of  dallying  with  your  breakfast. 
Damn  your  breakfast,  Mr.  Wallingford  !  "  he  said 
angrily,  and  turned  his  back.  "  I  left  them  and  the 
shore  at  three  in  the  morning;  I  have  been  at  my 
affairs  all  night.  Go  below,  sir !  "  he  commanded 
the  new  lieutenant  fiercely.  "  Now  you  have  no  gray- 
headed  pomposities  to  wait  upon  and  admire  you,  you 
had  best  begin  to  learn  something  of  your  duties.  Get 
you  down  and  fall  to  work,  sir !  Go  to  Simpson  for 
orders !  " 

Wallingford  looked  like  an  icicle  under  the  droop 
of  the  great  mainsail ;  he  gazed  with  wonder  and  pity 
at  the  piqued  and  wearied  little  man  ;  then  his  face 
grew  crimson,  and,  saluting  the  captain  stiffly,  he  went 
at  once  below.  There  was  many  a  friendly  greeting 
and  warm  handshake  waiting  for  him  between  decks, 
but  these  could  please  him  little  just  then  ;  he  made 
his  way  to  the  narrow  cabin,  cluttered  and  piled  high 
with  his  sea  kit  and  hasty  provisioning^,  and  sat  there 
in  the  dim  light  until  right-mindedness  prevailed. 
When  he  came  on  deck  again,  they  were  going  out  of 
the  lower  harbor,  with  a  following  wind,  straight  to 
sea.  He  may  have  gone  below  a  boy,  but  he  came  on 
deck  a  man. 

Sir  William  Pepperrell's  stately  gambrel-roofed 
house,  with  the  deer  park  and  gardens  and  row  of  al 
ready  decaying  warehouses,  looked  drowsy  with  age 


58  THE  TORY  LOVER 

on  Kittery  Point,  and  opposite,  hiding  away  in  Little 
Harbor,  was  the  rambling,  huge  old  mansion  of  the 
Wentworths,  with  its  fine  council  chamber  and  hand 
some  card-rooms,  where  he  had  danced  many  a  night 
with  the  pretty  Portsmouth  girls.  All  Roger  Walling- 
ford's  youth  and  pleasantries  were  left  behind  him 
now ;  the  summer  nights  were  ended ;  the  winter 
feasts,  if  there  were  any  that  dreary  year,  must  go  on 
without  him.  The  Isles  of  Shoals  lay  ahead  like  pieces 
of  frozen  drift  in  the  early  morning  light,  and  the 
great  sea  stretched  away  to  the  horizon,  bleak  and  cold 
and  far,  a  stormy  road  to  France. 

The  ship,  heading  out  into  the  waste  of  water,  took 
a  steady  movement  between  wind  and  wave,  and  a 
swinging  gait  that  seemed  to  deny  at  every  moment 
the  possibility  of  return.  The  gray  shore  sank  and 
narrowed  to  a  line  behind  her.  At  last  the  long  blue 
hill  in  Northwood  and  the  three  hills  of  Agamenticus 
were  seen  like  islands,  and  long  before  noon  these  also 
had  sunk  behind  the  waves,  and  the  Ranger  was  well 
at  sea. 


VIII 

THE  MAJOR'S   HOSPITALITIES 

"  But  see  how  merciful  Heaven  sends  relief  in  the  greatest  dis 
tresses,  for  now  conies  Don  Gayferos !  " 

THE  Haggens  house,  with  its  square  chimneys,  and 
a  broad  middle-aged  look  of  comfort,  like  those  who 
were  sheltered  under  its  roof,  stood  facing  the  whole 
southern  country  just  where  the  two  roads  joined  from 
the  upper  settlements.  A  double  stream  of  travel  and 
traffic  flowed  steadily  by  this  well-known  corner, 
toward  the  upper  and  lower  landings  of  the  tide  river. 
From  the  huge  square  stone  that  floored  a  pointed 
porch  of  severely  classic  design  could  be  seen  a  fine 
sweep  of  land  from  the  Butlers'  Hill  on  the  left,  over 
the  high  oak  woods  of  a  second  height  to  the  deep  pas 
ture  valleys.  Major  Right's  new  house  and  huge  sen 
tinel  pines  stood  on  a  ridge  beyond,  with  the  river  it 
self  showing  a  gleam  of  silver  here  and  there  all  along 
the  low  lands  toward  Portsmouth.  Across  the  coun 
try  westward  was  the  top  of  Garrison  Hill  at  Dover  ; 
to  the  south  was  the  dark  pine-forested  region  of  the 
Rocky  Hills.  It  was  a  wide  and  splendid  prospect 
even  on  a  bleak  autumn  day,  and  Major  Haggens,  the 
socially  minded  master  of  the  house,  was  trying  hard 
to  enjoy  it  as  he  sat  in  the  morning  wind,  wrapped  in 
his  red  cloak  and  longing  for  proper  companionship. 
He  cast  imploring  glances  across  the  way  to  the  habi 
tation  of  his  only  near  neighbor,  Mr.  Rogers,  but  he 


60  THE  TORY  LOVER 

could  see  the  old  gentleman  sitting  fast  asleep  at  that 
ridiculous  hour  of  the  morning,  behind  a  closed  win 
dow.  There  was  no  one  to  be  seen  up  the  road,  where 
Mr.  Jenkins's  place  of  business  was  apt  to  attract  the 
idle,  especially  in  the  harvest  time  of  his  famous  early 
apples.  These  were  dull  days ;  before  the  war  there 
were  few  mornings  of  the  year  when  the  broad  space 
before  the  major's  house  lacked  either  carriages  or 
foot-travelers  for  half  an  hour.  In  winter  the  two 
roads  were  blocked  as  far  as  a  man  could  see  with  the 
long  processions  of  ox  teams  laden  with  heavy  timber, 
which  had  come  from  fifty  or  even  a  hundred  miles 
back  in  the  north  country.  There  were  hundreds  of 
trees  standing  yet  in  the  great  forests  of  the  White 
Hills  that  were  marked  with  the  deeply  cut  King's 
arrow,  but  the  winter  snows  of  many  years  to  come 
were  likely  to  find  these  timber  pines  for  the  King's 
shipyards  still  standing. 

The  busy,  quick-enriching  days  of  the  past  seemed 
to  be  gone  forever,  and  poverty  and  uncertainty  had 
replaced  them.  There  was  no  such  market  anywhere 
for  Berwick  timber  as  England  had  always  been ;  the 
Berwick  merchants  would  be  prosperous  no  more  ; 
the  town  must  live  long  now  upon  their  hoarded  gains, 
and  then  seek  for  some  other  means  of  living.  The 
gay-hearted  old  major  looked  downcast,  and  gave  a 
deep  sigh.  He  had  no  such  remembrance  of  the 
earlier  wars,  when  Old  England  and  New  England 
had  fought  together  against  a  common  enemy.  Those 
battles  had  been  exciting  enough,  and  a  short  and 
evident  path  to  glory,  where  his  fellow  colonists  had 
felt  something  of  the  happy  certainties  of  the  Old 
Testament  Jews,  and  went  out  boldly  to  hew  Agag  in 
pieces  and  to  smite  the  Amalekites  hip  and  thigh. 


THE  MAJOR'S  HOSPITALITIES  61 

It  appeared  now  as  if,  with  all  its  hardships,  war  had 
been  a  not  unwelcome  relief  to  a  dull  level  of  prosper 
ity  and  the  narrowness  of  a  domestic  horizon.  War 
gave  a  man  the  pleasures  of  travel,  it  was  a  man's 
natural  business  and  outlet  of  energy  ;  but  war  with 
moral  enemies,  and  for  opinion's  sake,  lacked  the  old 
color,  and  made  the  faces  of  those  who  stayed  at  home 
grow  sullen.  They  were  backbiting  Hamilton  in  many 
a  pious  household,  that  morning,  for  giving  a  farewell 
feast  to  Paul  Jones.  'T  was  all  of  a  piece  with  Round 
head  days,  and  christening  a  child  by  such  names  as 
must  have  depressed  Praise-God  Barebones,  and  little 
Hate-Evil  Kilgore  who  was  a  neighbor  of  the  major's, 
down  the  Landing  hill. 

The  major's  sound  but  lately  unpracticed  head  was 
a  little  heavy  from  the  last  night's  supper,  and  the 
world  seemed  to  him  badly  out  of  joint.  He  was  a 
patriot  at  heart,  but  one  who  stood  among  the  moder 
ates.  He  seemed  uneasy  in  his  wooden  armchair,  and 
pushed  the  ferule  of  his  stout  old  ivory-headed  cane 
angrily  into  a  crevice  below  one  of  the  Corinthian 
pillars  of  the  porch.  His  tall  sister,  who,  by  virtue 
of  two  years'  precedence  in  age,  resolutely  maintained 
the  position  of  superior  officer,  had  already  once  or 
twice  opened  the  door  behind  to  advise  him  to  come 
in  out  of  the  cold  wind ;  the  chill  might  very  well  send 
him  an  attack  of  gout  in  the  stomach. 

"  I  've  got  no  gout  to  send,  nor  any  stomach  to 
send  it  to,"  returned  the  major  angrily.  "  What 's  the 
use  of  a  stomach,  when  a  man  can  get  nothing  decent 
to  put  into  it,  and  has  not  even  a  dog  to  keep  him 
company?  I  'd  welcome  even  a  tax  gatherer !  "  The 
great  door  was  shut  again  with  decision  enough  to 
clack  the  oval  brass  knocker,  and  the  major  finished 


62  THE  TORY  LOVER 

some  protests  against  fate  deep  in  his  own  disparaged 
interior,  and  punctuated  his  inarticulate  grumbles  by 
angry  bobs  of  the  head.  He  was  really  too  cold,  but 
he  would  not  submit  to  Nancy,  or  let  her  think  that 
she  could  rule  him,  as  she  seemed  to  wish. 

Suddenly  there  was  something  moving  down  at  the 
end  of  the  street ;  it  came  up  quickly  over  the  slope 
into  the  full  appearance  of  a  horse  and  rider,  and 
hope  filled  the  major's  once  sorrowful  mind. 

"  Jack  Hamilton,  by  zounds  !  "  laughed  the  old 
gentleman.  "  He  's  late  on  his  way  up  country.  I  '11 
stretch  a  point :  we  '11  make  it  an  hour  earlier,  and 
have  our  toddy  now  ;  it  must  be  after  ten." 

Hamilton  presently  declared  that  he  was  too  much 
belated  ;  he  must  go  to  the  far  regions  of  Tow-wow, 
where  he  owned  great  tracts  of  woodland ;  he  really 
must  not  vex  his  conscience  by  loitering. 

"  Here,  you,  Cuffee  !  here,  'Polio,  you  lazy  dog  !  " 
the  major  called,  merely  turning  his  head,  so  that  his 
voice  might  reach  round  the  house  through  the  long 
yard  to  his  barns  ;  and  after  a  moment's  consideration, 
Hamilton  dismounted  unwillingly.  The  gay  creature 
he  had  ridden  sidled  away,  and  whinnied  fretfully,  as 
if  she  also  objected  to  such  an  interruption  of  their 
plans. 

"  Keep  her  here  ;  I  shall  not  stop  long,"  said  the 
colonel  to  a  black  namesake  of  the  great  god  Apollo, 
who  was  the  first  to  arrive,  and,  although  breathless, 
began  to  walk  to  and  fro  sentry  fashion,  as  if  by  auto 
matic  impulse.  The  already  heated  young  mare  was 
nosing  his  shoulder  with  an  air  of  intimacy,  and  nip 
ping  at  the  edge  of  his  frayed  hat. 

"  You  '11  be  just  far  enough  from  both  dinner  and 
breakfast  now,"  insisted  the  major,  stamping  along 


THE  MAJOR'S  HOSPITALITIES  63 

through  the  handsome  cold  hall  of  the  house,  with  its 
elaborate  panelings  of  clear,  unpainted  pine.  "  You  '11 
get  to  Tow-wow,  or  Lebanon,  as  the  new  folks  want 
to  call  it,  all  the  sooner  for  this  delay.  You  've 
pounded  the  first  wind  out  of  that  colt  already ;  you  'd 
have  had  her  sobbing  on  Plaisted's  Hill.  What  we 
can't  find  in  eatables  we  '11  make  up  in  drinkables. 
Nancy,  Nancy,  where  's  my  spirit  case  ?  You  're  so 
precise  I  never  can  find  anything  where  I  leave  it !  " 

"  The  case  is  on  the  top  of  the  sideboard,  directly 
in  the  middle,  brother  Tilly,"  said  Miss  Nancy, 
politely  coming  out  of  the  room  on  the  right,  and 
looking  after  him,  with  her  knitting  in  hand. 

Mr.  Hamilton  turned,  and  she  dropped  a  somewhat 
informal  curtsy.  She  wore  a  plain  turban  which  gave 
her  a  severe  but  most  distinguished  air.  Miss  Hag- 
gens  was  quite  the  great  lady,  and  even  more  French 
in  her  appearance  than  the  major  himself. 

"  I  was  sorry  to  miss  the  gayeties  last  night,"  she 
said.  "  The  major  is  boyish  enough  for  anything,  and 
can  answer  every  beck  and  call,  but  I  felt  that  I  must 
not  venture.  I  was  sorry  when  it  proved  so  fine  an 
evening." 

"No  becks  and  calls  to  answer  in  these  days," 
insisted  the  busy  host.  "  'T  would  do  you  good,  Nancy, 
as  it  did  all  the  rest  of  us.  Let 's  have  it  in  the 
breakfast-room  ;  I  left  a  good  fire  there.  If  there 's 
no  hot  water,  I  '11  heat  some  quick  enough  in  a  por 
ringer." 

Hamilton,  following,  seated  himself  slowly  in  an 
armchair  by  the  fireplace.  The  processes  of  hospital 
ity  would  be  swifter  if  quietly  acquiesced  in,  and  now 
that  the  slim  decanter  of  Santa  Cruz  was  opened  the 
odor  was  not  unwelcome.  He  had  been  busy  enough 


64  THE  TOKY  LOVER 

since  daybreak,  but  wore  an  amused  look,  though 
somewhat  tired  and  worried,  as  the  major  flew  about 
like  a  captive  bumblebee.  Miss  Nancy's  prim  turban 
got  shifted  over  one  ear,  and  one  white  and  two  black 
handmaidens  joined  her  in  the  course  of  such  impor 
tant  affairs.  At  last  the  major  reappeared,  victorious 
and  irate,  with  a  steaming  porringer  which  had  just 
begun  to  heat  in  the  kitchen  fireplace,  and  splashed 
it  all  the  way  along  the  floor.  He  went  down  stiffly 
on  his  knees  in  the  breakfast-room  to  blow  the  coals, 
with  such  mighty  puffs  that  a  film  of  ashes  at  once 
covered  the  water  and  retarded  its  rise  of  temperature. 
Miss  Nancy  and  Colonel  Hamilton  looked  at  each 
other  across  his  broad  back  and  laughed. 

"  There,  there,  major  !  The  steam 's  rising,  and 
't  will  do  already,"  urged  the  colonel.  "  I  'd  rather 
not  take  my  drink  too  hot,  and  go  out  again  to  face 
the  wind." 

"I  felt  the  wind  myself,"  acknowledged  the  major, 
looking  up  pleasantly.  "  My  fore  door,  where  I  like 
to  sit,  is  well  sheltered,  but  I  felt  the  wind."  Miss 
Nancy  so  far  descended  from  her  usual  lofty  dignity 
as  to  make  a  little  face,  which  Hamilton,  being  a  man, 
did  not  exactly  understand. 

"  I  like  to  have  the  water  boiling  hot ;  then  you  can 
let  it  cool  away,  and  the  flavor  's  well  brought  out," 
explained  the  major.  Phoebe,  the  old  slave  woman 
who  looked  over  his  shoulder,  now  pronounced  with 
satisfaction  that  the  water  was  minnying,  with  the 
steam  all  in  it,  to  which  her  master  agreed.  Miss 
Nancy  put  out  a  strong  hand  and  helped  him  to  his 
feet. 

"  You  've  set  your  turban  all  awry,  sister,"  the 
major  remarked  politely  by  way  of  revenge,  and  the 


THE  MAJOR'S  HOSPITALITIES  65 

little  company  burst  into  a  hearty  laugh.  Miss  Nancy 
produced  a  gay  china  plate  of  pound  cakes  from  the 
cupboard,  and  sat  by  in  silence,  discreetly  knitting, 
until  the  toddy  was  not  only  made,  but  half  gone 
down  the  gentlemen's  throats. 

"  And  so  Roger  Wallingford  's  gone  to  sea,  and 
those  who  would  burn  him  in  his  house  for  a  Tory 
are  robbed  of  a  great  pleasure,"  she  said  at  last.  "  I 
wonder  what  their  feelings  are  to-day  !  My  heart 
aches  for  his  mother  ;  't  will  be  a  deathblow  to  all  her 
pride." 

"  It  will  indeed,"  said  Hamilton  seriously. 

"  I  was  sore  afraid  of  his  joining  the  other  side  only 
yesterday,"  said  the  major,  "  but  this  news  has  lain 
heavy  as  lead  on  me  all  the  morning.  There  are  those 
aboard  the  Eanger  who  will  only  have  him  for  a  spy. 
I  heard  a  whisper  of  this  last  night,  before  we  parted. 
I  was  even  glad  to  think  that  the  poor  boy  has  plenty 
of  old  family  friends  in  England,  who  can  serve  him  if 
worst  comes  to  worst." 

"  'T  was  in  my  mind,  too,"  agreed  the  colonel. 
"  John  Lord  was  hinting  at  trouble,  in  my  counting- 
room,  this  morning  early.  I  fancied  him  more  than 
half  glad  on  his  own  account  that  Wallingford  is  gone ; 
the  lads  have  looked  upon  each  other  as  rivals,  and  I 
have  suspected  that  't  was  Roger  who  was  leading  in 
the  race."  The  colonel's  wind-freshened  cheeks  bright 
ened  still  more  as  he  spoke,  and  looked  up  with  an  ex 
pectant  smile  at  Miss  Nancy,  who  did  not  reply  except 
by  giving  two  or  three  solemn  nods  of  her  turbaned 
head. 

"  Everybody  loves  the  boy,"  she  said  presently, 
"  but  't  is  of  his  dear  mother  I  am  thinking  most. 
'T  is  a  sad  heart  alone  in  her  great  house  to  front  the 


66  THE  TORY  LOVER 

winter  weather.  She  told  me  last  week  that  she  had 
a  mind  not  to  make  the  usual  change  to  her  house  in 
town.  There  were  like  to  be  disturbances,  and  she 
had  no  mind  for  anything  but  quiet.  I  shall  write, 
myself,  to  her  young  cousins  in  Boston,  or  to  the  Sher- 
burnes,  who  are  near  friends,  and  beg  them  to  visit 
her ;  't  is  none  so  cheerful  in  Boston  either,  now.  We 
were  always  together  in  our  youth,  but  age  makes  us 
poor  winter  comrades.  Sit  ye  down,"  said  Miss  Nancy 
Haggens  affectionately,  as  Hamilton  rose  and  put  by 
his  empty  glass.  "  And  how  is  our  dear  Mary  ?  "  she 
asked,  as  she  rose  also,  finding  him  determined.  There 
was  an  eager  look  in  the  old  lady's  eyes. 

"  I  have  not  seen  my  sister,"  answered  Hamilton, 
looking  grave.  "  I  was  very  early  by  the  riverside 
with  my  old  brig  Pactolus  going  downstream,  and 
everything  and  everybody  tardy.  I  shall  lay  her  up 
for  the  winter  by  Christian  Shore  ;  but,  as  things  look 
now,  I  fear  't  is  the  last  voyage  of  the  good  old  vessel. 
I  stood  and  watched  her  away,  and  when  she  made 
the  turn  past  Pine  Point  it  seemed  as  if  her  old  top 
masts  were  looking  back  at  me  wishfully  above  the 
woods." 

The  major  made  a  sound  which  was  meant  for  sym 
pathy  ;  he  was  very  warm  and  peaceful  now  before 
the  fire. 

"  My  sister  will  not  be  long  seeking  such  a  friend 
as  you,"  said  Hamilton,  with  sudden  change  of  tone, 
and  looking  at  Miss  Nancy  with  an  unwonted  show  of 
sentiment  and  concern  in  his  usually  impassive  face. 
"  I  slept  but  little  last  night,  and  my  fears,  small  and 
great,  did  not  sleep  at  all.  'T  is  heavy  news  from  the 
army,  and  I  am  perplexed  as  to  Mary's  real  feelings. 
The  captain  counts  upon  success  ;  as  for  the  step  that 


THE  MAJOR'S  HOSPITALITIES  67 

Roger  Wallingford  has  taken,  it  has  no  doubt  averted 
a  very  real  danger  of  the  moment." 

"  She  must  go  at  once  to  see  his  mother.  I  wish 
that  she  might  go  to-day.  You  may  tell  Mary  this, 
with  the  love  of  an  old  friend,"  said  Miss  Nancy  warn- 
ingly.  "  She  has  great  reserve  of  feeling  with  all  her 
pretty  frankness.  But  young  hearts  are  not  easy  read- 
ing." 

"  I  must  be  gone  all  day,"  said  Hamilton  gravely. 

For  once  the  major  listened  and  had  no  opinion 
ready.  All  the  troubles  of  life  had  been  lifted  in  the 
exercise  of  such  instant  hospitality. 

"  We  must  leave  all  to  Time,"  he  announced  cheer 
fully.  "  No  man  regrets  more  than  I  our  country's 
sad  situation.  And  mark  ye  both  :  the  captain  of  the 
Eanger  's  got  all  the  makings  of  a  hero.  Lord  bless 
me,"  he  exclaimed,  as  he  followed  Hamilton  along  the 
hall,  "  I  could  have  shed  tears  as  I  caught  his  fire,  at 
thinking  I  was  too  old  and  heavy  to  ship  with  him 
myself !  I  might  be  useful  yet  with  his  raw  marines 
and  in  the  land  attacks.  I  felt  last  night,  as  our  talk 
went  on,  that  I  should  be  as  good  for  soldiering  as 
ever." 

"  Brother  Tilly  !  "  Miss  Nancy  was  crying  from  the 
breakfast-room  in  despair.  "  Oh,  don't  go  out  into 
the  wind,  and  you  so  warm  with  your  toddy !  Wait, 
I  command  you,  Tilly !  Phoebe  's  coming  with  your 
hat  and  cloak  !  "  But  the  old  campaigner  was  already 
out  beyond  the  lilacs  in  the  front  yard,  with  the  rising 
northwester  lifting  his  gray  locks. 


IX 

BROTHER  AND   SISTER 

"  All  thoughts,  all  passions,  all  delights, 

Whatever  stirs  this  mortal  frame, 
All  are  but  ministers  of  Love, 
And  feed  his  sacred  flame." 

THAT  same  afternoon  of  the  first  of  November, 
one  might  have  thought  that  the  adventurers  on  board 
the  Kanger  had  taken  all  the  pleasant  weather  away 
with  them,  and  all  the  pleasure  and  interest  of  life ; 
only  endurance  and  the  bleak  chilliness  of  autumn 
seemed  to  be  left  ashore.  The  wind  changed  into  the 
east  as  night  drew  on,  and  a  cold  fog,  gathered  along 
the  coast,  came  drifting  up  the  river  with  the  tide,  until 
rain  began  to  fall  with  the  early  dark.  The  poplars 
and  elms  looked  shrunken  about  the  gardens  at  Ham 
ilton's,  and  the  house  but  ill  lighted.  The  great  rooms 
themselves  were  cold  and  empty. 

Colonel  Hamilton,  gloomy  with  further  bad  news 
from  the  army  on  Long  Island,  sat  alone  reviewing 
some  accounts,  shaking  his  head  over  a  great  ledger 
which  had  been  brought  up  from  the  counting-house, 
and  lay  before  him  on  a  table  in  the  west  room.  The 
large  Russian  stove  was  lighted  for  the  first  time  that 
year,  and  the  tiny  grate  glowed  bright  in  its  tall  pri 
son-like  front,  which  was  as  slow  to  give  out  any  heat 
as  a  New  England  winter  to  give  place  to  spring. 
The  pair  of  candles  gave  a  dull  yellow  light,  and  the 


BROTHER  AND  SISTER  69 

yery  air  of  the  west  room  looked  misty  about  them  in 
a  sort  of  halo,  as  Mary  Hamilton  opened  the  door. 
She  was  rosy  with  color  from  an  afternoon  ride,  while 
her  brother  looked  tired  and  dull.  All  the  long  day 
she  had  been  so  much  in  his  anxious  thoughts  that  he 
glanced  over  his  shoulder  with  apprehension.  In  spite 
of  his  grave  face  and  unyielding  temper,  he  had  a 
quick  imagination,  and,  for  the  few  persons  whom  he 
loved,  a  most  tender  heart. 

To  his  blank  surprise,  his  young  sister  had  never 
worn  a  more  spirited  or  cheerful  look.  She  was  no 
lovelorn  maiden,  and  had  come  to  him  for  neither  pity 
nor  anxious  confidence.  She  came  instead  to  stand 
close  beside  him,  with  a  firm  warm  hand  on  his 
shoulder,  and  smiling  looked  into  his  upturned  face. 

"  Well,  sir,  have  you  made  the  most  of  a  bad  day  ?  " 
she  asked,  in  the  tone  of  comradeship  which  always 
went  straight  to  Hamilton's  heart,  and  made  him  feel 
like  a  lover.  "  They  must  have  had  a  good  offshore 
wind  for  many  hours,"  she  added  before  he  could 
answer.  "  The  Ranger  must  be  safe  off  the  coast  by 
this  time,  and  out  of  this  hindering  fog." 

"  She  must  indeed,"  answered  Hamilton,  lending 
himself  comfortably  to  her  mood.  "  The  wind  was 
free  all  day  out  of  the  northwest  until  this  easterly 
chill  at  sundown.  They  will  not  like  to  drift  in  a  long 
calm  and  easterly  fog." 

"  Come,  you  look  miserable  here  ;  you  are  pale  with 
cold  yourself,  Jack,"  she  urged  kindly.  "  Let  us  poke 
this  slow  contrivance  for  a  fire  !  I  like  to  see  a  broad 
blaze.  CaBsar  kept  me  a  fine  hoard  of  pitch-pine  roots 
when  they  cleared  that  thicket  of  the  upper  pasture, 
and  I  made  a  noble  heat  with  them  just  now  in  my 
own  room.  I  told  him  to  look  after  your  stove  here, 


70  THE  TORY  LOVER 

but  he  was  sulky ;  he  seems  to  think  't  is  a  volcano 
in  a  box,  and  may  wreck  the  house  and  all  his  happi 
ness.  See,  it  was  full  of  ashes  at  the  draught.  Sir, 
may  I  ask  what  you  are  laughing  at  ?  " 

"  I  thought  you  would  be  like  Niobe,  all  tears,"  ho 
answered  boldly,  giving  her  a  half  amused,  half  curi 
ous  glance.  "  And  here  you  praise  the  wind  that 
blows  your  lover  seaward,  and  make  yourself  snug 
ashore." 

The  firelight  flashed  in  Mary's  face  at  that  moment, 
and  something  else  flashed  back  to  meet  it.  She 
was  kneeling  close  to  the  small  iron  door,  as  if  she 
were  before  a  confessional ;  but  she  looked  over  her 
shoulder  for  a  moment  with  a  quick  smile  that  had 
great  sweetness  and  power  to  charm. 

"  Let  us  be  happy  together,  my  dear,"  she  said. 
"  They  go  to  serve  our  country;  it  should  be  a  day  for 
high  hopes,  and  not  for  mourning.  I  look  for  great 
gallantry  on  board  the  Ranger  !  " 

She  stood  facing  her  brother  a  moment  later,  and 
looked  straight  in  his  face,  as  if  she  had  no  fears  of 
any  curious  gaze,  simply  unconscious  of  self,  as  if  no 
great  shock  had  touched  her  heart  in  either  new-found 
happiness  or  sense  of  loss.  It  seemed  as  if  her  cheer 
ful  self-possession  were  putting  a  bar  to  all  confidence. 

"  I  cannot  understand  you  !  "  he  exclaimed  sharply. 

"  You  are  cold  and  tired,  my  poor  old  man  !  Come, 
I  shall  have  no  more  figuring,"  and  she  slid  away  the 
ledger  beyond  his  reach  on  the  smooth  polished  oak 
of  the  table  top.  "  Let  us  make  a  bit  of  hot  drink 
for  so  cold  a  man  !  "  and  was  swiftly  gone  across  the 
hall  to  the  great  kitchen,  leaving  the  doors  wide  open 
behind  her.  It  seemed  warmer  at  once,  and  presently 
the  sound  of  laughter  and  a  coaxing  voice  made  Hamil- 


BROTHER  AND   SISTER  71 

ton's  heart  a  little  gayer.  Old  Peggy  and  her  young 
mistress  were  in  the  midst  of  a  lively  encounter,  and 
presently  a  noise  of  open  war  made  him  cross  the  hall 
with  boyish  eagerness  to  see  the  fray. 

Peggy  was  having  a  glorious  moment  of  proud 
resistance,  and  did  not  deign  to  notice  the  spectator. 
The  combatants  stood  facing  each  other  in  front  of  the 
huge  fireplace,  where  there  was  a  high  heap  of  ashes 
and  but  faint  glow  of  fire.  The  old  woman's  voice 
was  harsh,  and  she  looked  pale  and  desperate ;  there 
was  always  a  black  day  for  the  household  after  such 
a  masterpiece  of  a  feast  as  Peggy  had  set  before  her 
master's  guests  the  night  before.  The  fire  of  energy 
was  low  in  her  gaunt  frame,  except  for  a  saving  spark 
that  still  moved  the  engines  of  her  tongue.  She  stood 
like  a  thin  old  Boadicea  with  arms  akimbo,  and  Mary 
Hamilton  faced  her  all  abloom,  with  a  face  full  of 
laughter,  and  in  exactly  the  same  attitude ;  it  was  a 
pleasing  sight  to  Hamilton  at  the  door  of  the  side  hall. 
The  usually  populous  kitchen  was  deserted  of  all 
Peggy's  minions  except  Ca3sar,  and  there  were  no  signs 
of  any  preliminaries  of  even  the  latest  supper. 

"  Oh,  Peggy,  what  a  cross  old  thing  you  are ! " 
sighed  Mary,  at  the  end  of  Peggy's  remarks  upon  the 
text  of  there  being  nobody  in  the  house  to  do  anything 
save  herself.  "  I  should  really  love  to  stay  and  have 
a  good  battle  to  warm  us  up,  except  that  we  should 
both  be  near  to  weeping  when  it  was  done,  and  you 
would  be  sorrier  than  you  need,  and  cook  something 
much  too  nice  for  supper,  tired  as  you  are."  Then 
she  dropped  her  hands  and  relaxed  her  mocking  pose. 
"  Come,  Peggy  dear,  the  colonel 's  here,  and  he  's  ridden 
the  whole  length  of  Beech  Ridge  and  the  Tow-wow 
woods  since  morning  with  his  surveyors ;  he  's  very 


72  THE  TORY  LOVER 

cold  and  down-hearted,  and  I  only  want  a  spatter  of 
mulled  wine  for  him.  Come,  find  me  a  little  skillet 
and  we  11  heat  it  here  on  the  coals.  See,  they  're 
winking  bright  under  that  hill  of  ashes.  Where  are 
all  the  maids  ?  " 

"  In  their  beds,  I  suppose,  black  and  white  alike, 
and  getting  their  first  sleep  like  ladies,"  grumbled 
Peggy.  "  I  told  them  the  master  would  be  late,  and 
would  sup  at  Pine  Hill,  as  he  said  this  morning.  'T  is 
no  matter  about  me ;  Ca3sar  and  me,  we  're  old  and 
tough,"  and  the  stern  features  relaxed  a  little.  "  Why 
did  n't  you  tell  me  't  was  for  the  master,  an'  he  'd  no 
supper  after  such  a  day,  with  the  clock  far  past  seven, 
and  you  yourself  with  nothing  but  bread  and  milk  to 
stay  you  ?  Truth  to  tell,  I  was  asleep  in  the  corner  of 
the  settle  here,  and  a  spark  's  burnt  me  a  hole  in  this 
good  apron  and  spoilt  my  temper.  You  have  too 
much  patience  with  poor  old  Peggy,"  she  muttered, 
bending  over  the  ashes  and  raking  them  open  to  their 
bright  life  with  her  hard  brown  hand. 

Mary  stood  watching  her  for  a  moment ;  a  quick 
change  came  over  her  face,  and  she  turned  away 
silently,  and  went  toward  the  window  as  if  to  look  up 
the  river. 

"What  was  you  desigriin'  to  get  for  supper?"  old 
CaBsar  humbly  inquired  at  this  auspicious  moment. 
"  I  rnought  be  a-layin'  of  the  table."  But  Peggy  did 
not  notice  him.  He  was  still  in  a  place  of  safety 
behind  the  settle,  his  gray  head  just  appearing  over 
the  high  back. 

"  We  might  finish  the  pigeon  pie,"  the  young  mis 
tress  suggested ;  "  the  colonel  will  like  a  bit  of  cheese 
afterward  and  plenty  of  bread.  Mind,  Peggy,  'tis 
only  a  cold  supper  1  " 


BROTHER  AND   SISTER  73 

"  Was  you  es-pectin*  any  of  the  quality  aside 
yo'selves,  missy  ?  "  politely  demanded  Caesar,  in  the 
simple  exercise  of  his  duty. 

"  Don't  you  keep  a-askin'  questions ;  't  ain't  no 
way  to  converse  with  human  creatur's !  "  said  Peggy 
severely. 

"  Laws,  Peggy,  I  feels  an  int'rist !  "  said  poor 
Caesar  humbly. 

"  No,  you  don't  neither ;  you  're  full  to  bu'stin' 
of  cur'osity,  an'  it 's  a  fault  that  grows  by  feedin'  of 
it.  Let  your  mind  dwell  on  that,  now,  next  Sabbath 
mornin'  up  in  your  gallery,  'stid  o'  rollin'  your  eyes 
at  the  meetin'  folks  an'  whisp'rin'  with  Cato  Lord !  " 
and  Peggy  laughed  in  spite  of  herself.  "  Come  out 
from  there,  an'  fetch  me  some  dry  pine  chips,  if  't  won't 
demean  your  dignity.  I  '11  ax  you  some  questions  you 
don't  know  no  answers  to,  if  you  be  an  Afriky  poten 
tate  ! " 

The  master  of  the  house  had  tiptoed  back  across 
the  hall  like  a  pleased  schoolboy,  and  was  busy  with 
the  ledger  when  his  sister  came  back,  a  few  minutes 
later,  with  a  steaming  porringer.  She  proceeded  to 
mix  a  most  fragrant  potion  in  a  large  gayly  flowered 
glass,  while  Hamilton  described  his  morning  entertain 
ment  by  the  major ;  then  an  old  dog  came  loitering 
in,  and  watched  his  master  enviously,  as  he  drank, 
and  stirred  again,  and  praised  the  warm  drink,  and 
grew  every  moment  more  cheerful. 

Mary  Hamilton  stood  leaning  against  the  Kussian 
stove.  "  It  is  just  getting  warm  now,  this  dull  old 
idol  of  yours,"  she  said,  "  and  we  cannot  cool  it  before 
spring.  We  '11  sit  in  the  dining  parlor  to-night  after 
supper ;  you  shall  smoke  your  pipe  there,  and  I  can 
see  the  good  firelight.  We  are  lonesome  after  a  gay 


74  THE  TORY  LOVER 

day  and  night  like  yesterday ;  we  have  had  no  word 
of  gossip  yet  about  our  ball.  I  have  many  things  to 
tell  you." 

Hamilton  nodded  amiably ;  the  color  had  come  back 
into  his  face,  and  driven  away  the  worn  and  worried 
look  that  had  fallen  on  him  before  his  time.  He  had 
made  so  light  of  care  that  care  made  light  of  him,  and 
was  beginning  to  weigh  his  spirit  down  early  in  mid 
dle  life. 

"  I  came  across  the  river  at  the  Great  Falls,"  he 
said,  not  without  effort,  and  looking  at  his  young 
sister,  "  the  roads  were  so  heavy  through  the  woods  by 
Cranberry  Meadow." 

"  So  you  did  n't  stop  to  give  Granny  Sullivan  the 
money?"  asked  Mary,  as  if  she  were  disappointed. 

"  Yes,  on  my  way  this  morning.  She  knew  more 
about  last  night  than  I  could  sweep  together  to  tell 
her  if  I  had  stayed  an  hour." 

"The  birds  tell  granny  everything,"  said  Mary, 
laughing.  "  She  gave  me  a  handsome  scolding  the 
other  day  because  Peggy's  rack  of  spiced  hams  had 
fallen  in  the  ashes  that  very  morning.  How  was  the 
master?" 

"  Very  absent-minded,  and  reading  his  Horace  as 
if  the  old  poet  were  new.  He  did  not  even  look 
up  while  she  thanked  me  for  the  money  the  judge 
had  sent.  4 1  'm  knitting  every  minute  I  'm  not  work 
ing  or  eating,  for  my  poor  lame  lad  Jamie,'  she  said. 
1  Now,  he  has  nothing  to  do  but  read  his  law  books, 
an'  tell  others  what 's  in  them,  and  grow  rich !  'T  is 
all  because  his  father  's  such  a  gentleman  ! ' : 

"  How  proud  she  is,  the  dear  old  woman !  "  said 
Mary  warmly. 

"  Yes,  and  they  have  the  sense  to  be  proud  of  her," 


BROTHER  AND  SISTER  75 

said  Hamilton,  settling  into  his  chair  more  comfortably 
and  putting  his  empty  glass  aside. 

"  I  rode  to  the  Rocky  Hills  myself  late  this  after 
noon.  I  heard  that  Elder  Shackley  had  been  ill.  I 
liked  the  fresh  wind  and  wet  after  last  night's  warmth 
and  a  busy  morning  here  in  the  house.  I  meant  at 
first  to  ride  north  to  meet  you ;  but  it  was  better  not, 
since  you  crossed  at  the  Falls." 

"  I  thought  you  would  go  another  way,"  said  Ham 
ilton  seriously.  There  were  moments  when  he  seemed 
old  enough  to  be  her  father ;  there  were,  indeed,  many 
years  between  them.  "  There  is  a  sad  heart  and  a 
lonely  one  across  the  river  to-night,  while  we  seem 
gay  enough  together." 

Mary's  face  changed  quickly ;  she  stepped  toward 
him,  and  seated  herself  on  the  broad  arm  of  the  chair, 
and  drew  her  brother's  head  close  against  her  side. 

"What  is  it  that  you  wish  to  say  to  me?"  she  asked. 
"  I  have  been  thinking  of  dear  Madam  Wallingford 
all  day  long,"  and  Hamilton  could  feel  her  young 
heart  beating  quick  like  a  bird's,  close  to  his  ear. 

"  She  was  in  my  mind,  too.  I  came  down  that 
side  of  the  river  to  see  her,  but  it  grew  so  rainy  and 
late  that  I  gave  up  my  thought  of  stopping  except  to 
leave  a  message.  My  mare  was  very  hot  and  spent," 
he  explained,  in  a  matter-of-fact  way.  "  As  I  came 
toward  the  house  I  saw  my  lady  standing  at  a  window, 
and  she  beckoned  me.  She  came  herself  to  the  door, 
and  the  wind  blew  her  to  and  fro  like  a  flag.  She 
had  been  weeping  terribly.  '  I  longed  to  see  a  friend,' 
she  told  me,  and  could  say  no  more.  ...  I  feared 
that  she  might  bear  us  much  ill  will." 

Hamilton  was  so  full  of  feeling  that  his  own  voice 
failed  him,  and  Mary  did  not  speak  at  first. 


76  THE  TORY  LOVER 

"  Well,  dear  brother  ?  "  she  asked  a  moment  later, 
knowing  that  he  had  more  to  say. 

"  She  wished  to  send  you  a  message ;  't  was  her 
reason  for  calling  me  in.  She  asked  if  you  would  not 
come  to  see  her  to-morrow,  late  in  the  afternoon.  Ear 
lier  she  has  business  of  the  estate  to  manage,  in  place 
of  her  son.  There  are  men  coming  down  from  the 
Lake." 

"  Oh  yes,  yes,  I  shall  go  !  "  said  Mary,  with  a  sob. 
"  Oh,  I  am  so  glad ;  I  feared  that  her  heart  was 
broken,  and  that  she  would  only  hate  us !  " 

"  I  was  afraid,  too,"  returned  Hamilton,  and  he 
took  his  sister's  hand  gently  in  his  own,  and  would 
have  spoken  something  that  she  could  not  bear  to 
hear. 

She  moved  away  quickly.  "  Come,  dear  man,"  she 
said,  "  you  must  throw  off  these  muddy  clothes  ;  you 
are  warm  again  now,  and  they  will  soon  be  calling  us 
to  supper." 

He  sighed,  and  looked  at  her  in  bewilderment  as  he 
obeyed.  She  had  gone  to  the  window  and  pushed  the 
shutter  back,  and  was  gazing  out  into  the  dark  night. 
He  looked  at  her  again  as  he  was  going  out  of  the 
room,  but  still  she  did  not  speak.  Was  it  the  captain, 
after  all,  who  had  gone  away  with  her  heart  ?  She 
had  not  even  mentioned  his  name  ! 

She  was  not  always  so  silent  about  her  lovers ;  they 
had  been  many,  and  she  sometimes  spoke  frankly 
enough  when  he  and  she  were  alone  together  like  this, 
and  the  troubles  and  veils  of  every-day  intercourse 
were  all  put  aside.  But  who  could  read  a  woman's 
heart?  Certainly  not  a  poor  bachelor,  who  had 
never  yet  learned  to  read  his  own ! 


AGAINST  WIND  AND  TIDE 

"  Whose  daughters  ye  are  as  long  as  ye  do  well  and  are  not  afraid 
with  any  amazement." 

LATE  the  next  afternoon  Mary  Hamilton  appeared 
at  the  north  door  of  the  house,  and  went  quickly 
down  the  steep  garden  side  toward  the  water.  In 
the  shallow  slip  between  two  large  wharves  lay  some 
idle  rowboats,  which  belonged  to  workmen  who  came 
every  morning  from  up  and  down  the  river.  The 
day's  short  hurry  was  nearly  over ;  there  was  still  a 
noise  of  heavy  adzes  hewing  at  a  solid  piece  of  oak 
timber,  but  a  group  of  men  had  begun  to  cluster 
about  a  storehouse  door  to  talk  over  the  day's  news. 

The  •  tide  was  going  out,  and  a  birch  canoe  which 
the  young  mistress  had  bespoken  was  already  left  high 
on  the  shore.  She  gave  no  anxious  glance  for  her 
boatman,  but  got  into  a  stranded  skiff,  and,  reaching 
with  a  strong  hand,  caught  the  canoe  and  dragged  it 
down  along  the  slippery  mud  until  she  had  it  well 
afloat ;  then,  stepping  lightly  aboard,  took  up  her 
carved  paddle,  and  looked  before  her  to  mark  her 
course  across  the  swift  current.  Wind  and  current 
and  tide  were  all  going  seaward  together  with  a  deter 
mined  rush. 

There  was  a  heavy  gundalow  floating  down  the 
stream  toward  the  lower  warehouse,  to  be  loaded 


78  THE  TORY  LOVER 

with  potatoes  for  the  Portsmouth  market,  and  this 
was  coming  across  the  slip.  The  men  on  board  gave 
a  warning  cry  as  they  caught  sight  of  a  slender  figure 
in  the  fragile  craft ;  but  Mary  only  laughed,  and, 
with  sufficient  strength  to  court  the  emergency,  struck 
her  paddle  deep  into  the  water  and  shot  out  into  the 
channel  right  across  their  bow.  The  current  served 
well  to  keep  her  out  of  reach ;  the  men  had  been 
holding  back  their  clumsy  great  boat  lest  it  should 
pass  the  wharf.  One  of  them  ran  forward  anxiously 
with  his  long  sweep,  as  if  he  expected  to  see  the  canoe 
in  distress  like  a  drowning  fly  ;  but  Miss  Hamilton, 
without  looking  back,  was  pushing  on  across  the  river 
to  gain  the  eddy  on  the  farther  side. 

"  She  might  ha'  held  back  a  minute  ;  she  was  liable 
to  be  catched  an'  ploughed  right  under !  A  gal 's  just 
young  enough  to  do  that ;  men  that 's  met  danger  don't 
see  no  sport  in  them  tricks,"  grumbled  the  boatman. 

"  Some  fools  would  ha'  tried  to  run  astarn,"  said 
old  Mr.  Philpot,  his  companion,  "  an'  the  suck  o'  the 
water  would  ha'  catched  'em  side  up  ag'in'  us ;  no,  she 
knowed  what  she  was  about.  Kind  of  scairt  me, 
though.  Look  at  her  set  her  paddle,  strong  as  a  man ! 
Lord,  she  's  a  beauty,  an'  's  good 's  they  make  'em !  " 

"Folks  all  thinks,  down  our  way,  she  '11  take  it  mas 
ter  hard  the  way  young  Wallin'ford  went  off,  'thout 
note  or  warnin'.  They  've  b'en  a-hoverin'  round  all 
ready  to  fall  to  love-makin',  till  this  objection  got 
roused  'bout  his  favorin'  the  Tories.  There  'd  b'en 
trouble  a' ready  if  he  'd  stayed  to  home.  I  misdoubt 
they  'd  smoked  him  out  within  half  a  week's  time. 
Some  o'  them  fellows  that  hangs  about  Dover  Landin' 
and  Christian  Shore  was  bent  on  it,  an'  they  'd  had 
some  better  men  'long  of  'em." 


AGAINST  WIND   AND  TIDE  79 

"  Then  't  would  have  been  as  black  a  wrong  as 
ever  was  done  on  this  river !  "  exclaimed  the  elder 
man  indignantly,  looking  back  over  his  shoulder 
toward  the  long  house  of  the  Wallingfords,  that  stood 
peaceful  in  the  autumn  sunshine  high  above  the  river. 
"  They  've  been  good  folks  in  all  their  ginerations. 
The  lad  was  young,  an'  had  n't  formed  his  mind.  As 
for  Madam,  —  why,  women  folks  is  natural  Tories  ; 
they  hold  by  the  past,  same  as  men  are  fain  to  reach 
out  and  want  change.  She  's  feeble  and  fearful  since 
the  judge  was  taken  away,  an'  can't  grope  out  to 
nothin'  new,  I  heared  tell  that  one  o'  her  own  bro 
thers  is  different  from  the  rest  as  all  holds  by  the 
King,  an'  has  given  as  much  as  any  man  in  Boston  to 
carry  on  this  war.  There  ain't  no  Loyalist  inside  my 
skin,  but  I  despise  to  see  a  low  lot  o'  fools  think 
smart  o'  theirselves  for  bein'  sassy  to  their  betters." 

The  other  man  looked  a  little  crestfallen.  "  There 's 
those  as  has  it  that  the  cap'n  o'  the  Eanger  would  n't 
let  nobody  look  at  young  miss  whilst  he  was  by,"  he 
hastened  to  say.  "  Folks  say  they  're  good  as  promised 
an'  have  changed  rings.  I  al'ays  heared  he  was  a 
gre't  man  for  the  ladies  ;  loves  'em  an'  leaves  'em.  I 
knowed  men  that  had  sailed  with  him  in  times  past, 
an'  they  said  he  kept  the  highest  company  in  every 
port.  But  if  all  tales  is  true  "  — 

"  Mostly  they  ain't,"  retorted  old  Mr.  Philpot  scorn 
fully. 

"  I  don't  know  nothin'  't  all  about  it ;  that 's  what 
folks  say,"  answered  his  mate.  "  He  's  got  the  look  of 
a  bold  commander,  anyway,  and  a  voice  an'  eye  that 
would  wile  a  bird  from  a  bush."  But  at  this  moment 
the  gundalow  bumped  heavily  against  the  wharf,  and 
there  was  no  more  time  for  general  conversation. 


80  THE  TORY  LOVER 

Mary  Hamilton  paddled  steadily  up  river  in  the 
smooth  water  of  the  eddy,  now  and  then  working  hard 
to  get  round  some  rocky  point  that  bit  into  the  hur 
rying  stream.  The  wind  was  driving  the  ebbing  tide 
before  it,  so  that  the  water  had  fallen  quickly,  and 
sometimes  the  still  dripping  boughs  of  overhanging 
alders  and  oaks  swept  the  canoe  from  end  to  end,  and 
spattered  the  kneeling  girl  with  a  cold  shower  by 
way  of  greeting.  Sometimes  a  musquash  splashed 
into  the  water  or  scuttled  into  his  chilly  hole  under 
the  bank,  clattering  an  untidy  heap  of  empty  mussel 
shells  as  he  went.  All  the  shy  little  beasts,  weasels 
and  minks  and  squirrels,  made  haste  to  disappear 
before  this  harmless  voyager,  and  came  back  again  as 
she  passed.  The  great  fishhawks  and  crows  sailed 
high  overhead,  secure  but  curious,  and  harder  for 
civilization  to  dispossess  of  their  rights  than  wild 
creatures  that  lived  aground. 

The  air  was  dry  and  sweet,  as  if  snow  were  coming, 
and  all  the  falling  leaves  were  down.  Here  and  there 
might  linger  a  tuft  of  latest  frost  flowers  in  a  sheltered 
place,  and  the  witch-hazel  in  the  thickets  was  still 
sprinkled  with  bright  bloom.  Mary  stopped  once 
under  the  shore  where  a  bough  of  this  strange,  spring- 
in-autumn  flower  grew  over  the  water,  and  broke  some 
twigs  to  lay  gently  before  her  in  the  canoe.  The  old 
Indian,  last  descendant  of  the  chief  Passaconaway, 
who  had  made  the  light  craft  and  taught  her  to  guide 
it,  had  taught  her  many  other  things  of  his  wild  and 
wise  inheritance.  This  flower  of  mystery  brought  up 
deep  associations  with  that  gentle-hearted  old  friend, 
the  child  of  savagery  and  a  shadowy  past. 

The  river  broadened  now  at  Madam's  Cove.  There 
was  a  great  roaring  in  the  main  channel  beyond, 


AGAINST  WIND  AND  TIDE  81 

where  the  river  was  vexed  by  rocky  falls  ;  inside  the 
cove  there  was  little  water  left  except  in  the  straight 
channel  that  led  to  the  landing-place  and  quaint 
heavy-timbered  boat-house.  From  the  shore  a  grassy 
avenue  went  winding  up  to  the  house  above.  Against 
the  northwestern  sky  the  old  home  of  the  Walling- 
fords  looked  sad  and  lonely ;  its  windows  were  like 
anxious  eyes  that  followed  the  river's  course  toward  a 
dark  sea  where  its  master  had  gone  adventuring. 

Mary  stood  on  land,  looking  back  the  way  she  had 
come  ;  her  heart  was  beating  fast,  but  it  was  not  from 
any  effort  of  fighting  against  wind  or  tide.  She  did 
not  know  why  she  began  to  remember  with  strange 
vividness  the  solemn  pageant  of  Judge  Wallingford's 
funeral,  which  had  followed  the  water  highway  from 
Portsmouth,  one  summer  evening,  on  the  flood  tide. 
It  was  only  six  years  before,  when  she  was  already 
the  young  and  anxious  mistress  of  her  brother's  house, 
careful  and  troubled  about  many  things  like  Martha, 
in  spite  of  her  gentler  name.  She  had  looked  out  of 
an  upper  window  to  see  the  black  procession  of  boats 
with  slow-moving  oars  come  curving  and  winding 
across  the  bay ;  the  muffled  black  of  mourning  trailed 
from  the  sides ;  there  were  soldiers  of  the  judge's 
regiment,  sitting  straight  in  their  bright  uniforms, 
for  pallbearers,  and  they  sounded  a  solemn  tap  of 
drum  as  they  came. 

They  drew  nearer :  the  large  coffin  with  its  tasseled 
pall,  the  long  train  of  boats  which  followed  filled 
with  sorrowing  friends,  —  the  President  of  the  Pro 
vince  and  many  of  the  chief  men,  —  had  all  passed 
slowly  by. 

The  tears  rushed  to  Mary's  eyes,  that  day,  when 
she  saw  her  brother's  serious  young  head  among  the 


82  THE  TORY  LOVER 

elder  gentlemen,  and  close  beside  him  was  the  fair 
tear-reddened  face  and  blond  uncovered  hair  of  the 
fatherless  son.  Koger  Wallingford  was  but  a  boy 
then  ;  his  father  had  been  the  kind  friend  and  gener 
ous  founder  of  all  her  brother's  fortunes.  She  re 
membered  how  she  had  thanked  him  from  a  grateful 
heart,  and  meant  to  be  unsparing  in  her  service  and 
unfailing  in  duty  toward  the  good  man's  widow  and 
son.  They  had  read  prayers  for  him  in  the  Queen's 
Chapel  at  Portsmouth ;  they  were  but  bringing  him  to 
his  own  plot  of  ground  in  Somersworth,  at  eventide, 
and  Mary  Hamilton  prayed  for  him  out  of  a  full 
heart  as  his  funeral  went  by.  The  color  came  in  her 
young  cheeks  at  the  remembrance.  What  had  she 
dared  to  do,  what  responsibility  had  she  not  taken 
upon  her  now  ?  She  was  but  an  ignorant  girl,  and 
driven  by  the  whip  of  Fate.  A  strange  enthusiasm, 
for  which  she  could  not  in  this  dark  moment  defend 
herself,  had  led  her  on.  It  was  like  the  moment  of 
helpless  agony  that  comes  with  a  bad  dream. 

She  turned  again  and  faced  the  house  ;  and  the 
house,  like  a  great  conscious  creature  on  the  hillside, 
seemed  to  wait  for  her  quietly  and  with  patience. 
She  was  standing  on  Wallingford's  ground,  and  bent 
upon  a  most  difficult  errand.  There  was  neither  any 
wish  for  escape,  in  her  heart,  nor  any  thought  of  it, 
and  yet  for  one  moment  she  trembled  as  if  the  wind 
shook  her  as  it  shook  the  naked  trees.  Then  she  went 
her  way,  young  and  strong-footed,  up  the  long  slope. 
It  was  one  of  the  strange  symbolic  correspondences  of 
life  that  her  path  led  steadily  up  the  hill. 

The  great  door  of  the  house  opened  wide  before 
her,  as  if  the  whole  future  must  have  room  to  enter ; 


AGAINST  WIND  AND  TIDE  83 

old  Rodney,  the  chief  house  servant,  stood  within,  as  if 
he  had  been  watching  for  succor.  In  the  spacious  hall 
the  portraits  looked  proud  and  serene,  as  if  they  were 
still  capable  of  all  hospitalities  save  that  of  speech. 

"  Will  you  say  that  Miss  Hamilton  waits  upon 
Madam  Wallingford  ?  "  said  Mary  ;  and  the  white- 
headed  old  man  bowed  with  much  ceremony,  and  went 
up  the  broad  stairway,  still  nodding,  and  pausing 
once,  with  his  hand  on  the  high  banister,  to  look  back 
at  so  spirited  and  beautiful  a  guest.  A  faithful  heart 
ached  within  him  to  see  her  look  so  young,  so  fresh- 
blooming,  so  untouched  by  sorrow,  and  to  think  of  his 
stricken  mistress.  Yet  she  had  come  into  the  chilly 
house  like  a  brave,  warm  reassurance,  and  all  Rodney's 
resentment  was  swift  to  fade.  The  quick  instincts  of 
his  race  were  confronted  by  something  that  had  power 
to  master  them ;  he  comprehended  the  truth  because 
it  was  a  simple  truth  and  his  was  a  simple  heart. 

He  disappeared  at  the  turn  of  the  staircase  into  the 
upper  hall,  and  Mary  took  a  few  impatient  steps  to 
and  fro.  On  the  great  moose  antlers  was  flung  some 
of  the  young  master's  riding  gear  ;  there  was  his  rack 
of  whips  below,  and  a  pair  of  leather  gloves  with  his 
own  firm  grasp  still  showing  in  the  rounded  fingers. 
There  were  his  rods  and  guns ;  even  his  old  dog  leash 
and  the  silver  whistle.  She  knew  them  all  as  well  as 
he,  with  their  significance  of  past  activities  and  the 
joys  of  life  and  combat.  They  made  their  owner  seem 
so  close  at  hand,  and  the  pleasures  of  his  youth  all 
snatched  away.  Oh,  what  a  sharp  longing  for  the  old 
lively  companionship  was  in  her  heart !  It  was  like 
knowing  that  poor  Roger  was  dead  instead  of  gone 
away  to  sea.  He  would  come  no  more  in  the  winter 
evenings  to  tell  his  hunter's  tales  of  what  had  happened 


84  THE  TORY  LOYER 

at  the  lakes,  or  to  plan  a  snowshoe  journey  up  the 
country.  Mary  stamped  her  foot  impatiently ;  was 
she  going  to  fall  into  helpless  weakness  now,  when  she 
had  most  need  to  be  quiet  and  to  keep  her  steadiness  ? 
Old  Kodney  was  stepping  carefully  down  the  stairs 
again;  she  wore  a  paler  look  than  when  they  had 
parted.  Somehow,  she  felt  like  a  stranger  in  the 
familiar  house. 

Once  Kodney  would  have  been  a  mere  reflection  of 
his  mistress's  ready  welcome,  but  now  he  came  close 
to  Miss  Hamilton's  side  and  spoke  in  an  anxious 
whisper. 

"  You  '11  be  monst'ous  gentle  to  her  dis  day,  young 
mistis  ?  "  he  asked  pleadingly.  "  Oh  yis,  mistis  ;  her 
heart 's  done  broke  !  " 

Then  he  shuffled  away  to  the  dining-room  to  move 
the  tankards  on  the  great  sideboard.  One  could  feel 
everything,  but  an  old  black  man,  born  in  the  jungle 
and  stolen  by  a  slaver's  crew,  knew  when  he  had  said 
enough. 


XI 

THAT   TIME   OF   YEAR 

"  Come,  Sorrow  !  put  thy  sweet  arms  round  my  neck, 
For  none  are  left  to  do  this,  only  thou." 

THE  low  afternoon  sun  slanted  its  rays  into  the 
stately  chamber,  and  brightened  the  dull  East  Indian 
red  of  some  old  pictured  cottons  that  made  the  tasseled 
hangings.  There  were  glowing  coals  in  the  deep  fire 
place,  and  Madam  Wallingford  sat  at  the  left,  in  one 
of  those  great  easy-chairs  that  seem  to  offer  refuge  to 
both  illness  and  sorrow.  She  had  turned  away  so  that 
she  could  not  see  the  river,  and  even  the  wistful  sun 
shine  was  all  behind  her.  There  was  a  slender  light- 
stand  with  some  white  knitting-work  at  her  side,  but 
her  hands  were  lying  idle  in  her  lap.  She  had  never 
been  called  beautiful ;  she  had  no  great  learning, 
though  on  a  shelf  near  by  she  had  gathered  a  little 
treasury  of  good  books.  She  had  manner  rather  than 
manners ;  she  was  plainly  enough  that  unmistakable 
and  easily  recognized  person,  a  great  lady.  They  are 
but  few  in  every  generation,  but  the  simplicity  and 
royalty  of  their  lovely  succession  have  never  disap 
peared  from  an  admiring  world. 

"  Come  in,  Mary,"  said  Madam  Wallingford,  with 
a  wan  look  of  gentleness  and  patience.  "  '  Here  I  and 
Sorrow  sit ! '  " 

She  motioned  toward  a  chair  which  her  attendant, 


86  THE  TORY  LOVER 

an  ancient  countrywoman,  was  placing  near.  Mary 
crossed  the  room  quickly,  and  took  her  appointed 
place  ;  then  she  clasped  her  hands  tight  together,  and 
her  head  drooped.  At  that  moment  patriotism  and 
all  its  high  resolves  may  have  seemed  too  high ;  she 
forgot  everything  except  that  she  was  in  the  presence 
of  a  lonely  woman,  sad  and  old  and  bereft.  She  saw 
the  woeful  change  that  grief  had  made  in  this  Tory 
mother  of  a  Patriot  son.  She  could  but  sit  in  silence 
with  maidenly  self-effacement,  and  a  wistful  affection- 
ateness  that  was  like  the  timidest  caress,  —  this  young 
creature  of  high  spirit,  who  had  so  lately  thrown  down 
her  bold  challenge  of  a  man's  loyalty.  She  sat  there 
before  the  fire,  afraid  of  nothing  but  her  own  insistent 
tears ;  she  could  not  conquer  a  sudden  dumbness  that 
had  forgotten  speech.  She  could  not  bear  to  look 
again  at  the  piteous  beloved  face  of  Madam  Walling- 
ford.  The  march  of  events  had  withered  the  elder 
woman  and  trampled  her  underfoot,  like  a  flower  in 
the  road  that  every  wheel  went  over ;  she  had  grown 
old  in  two  short  days,  while  the  girl  who  sat  before 
her  had  only  changed  into  brighter  bloom. 

"You  may  leave  us  now,  Susan,"  said  Madam  Wal- 
lingford  ;  and  with  many  an  anxious  glance  the  old 
serving  woman  went  away. 

Still  there  fell  silence  between  the  two.  The  wind 
was  droning  its  perpetual  complaining  note  in  the 
chimney ;  a  belated  song  sparrow  lifted  its  happy  little 
tune  outside  the  southern  windows,  and  they  both 
listened  to  the  very  end.  Then  their  eyes  turned  to 
each  other's  faces ;  the  bird  had  spoken  first  in  the 
wintry  air.  Then  Mary  Hamilton,  with  a  quick  cry, 
took  a  hurried  step,  and  fell  upon  her  knees  at  the 


THAT  TIME  OF  YEAR  87 

mother's  side,  and  took  her  in  her  arms,  hiding  her 
own  face  from  sight. 

"  What  can  I  say  ?  Oh,  what  can  I  say  ?  "  she  cried 
again.  "  It  will  break  my  heart  if  you  love  me  no 
more !  " 

The  elder  woman  shrank  for  a  moment ;  there  was 
a  quick  flash  in  her  eyes ;  then  she  drew  Mary  still 
nearer  and  held  her  fast.  The  comfort  of  a  warm 
young  life  so  close  to  her  shivering  loneliness,  the  sense 
of  her  own  weakness  and  that  Mary  was  the  stronger, 
kept  her  from  breaking  now  into  the  stern  speech  of 
which  her  heart  was  full.  She  said  nothing  for  a  long 
time,  but  sat  waiting ;  and  now  and  then  she  laid  her 
hand  on  the  girl's  soft  hair,  until  Mary's  fit  of  weeping 
had  passed. 

"  Bring  the  little  footstool  here  and  sit  by  me  ;  we 
must  talk  of  many  things  together,"  she  gave  command 
at  last ;  and  Mary,  doing  the  errand  like  a  child,  lin 
gered  by  the  window,  and  then  returned  with  calmness 
to  her  old  friend's  side.  The  childish  sense  of  distance 
between  them  had  strangely  returned,  and  yet  she  was 
conscious  that  she  must  take  a  new  charge  upon  her 
self,  and  keep  nearer  than  ever  to  this  sad  heart. 

"  I  did  not  know  his  plans  until  that  very  night," 
she  said  to  Madam  Wallingford,  looking  bravely  and 
sweetly  now  into  the  mother's  face.  "  I  could  not 
understand  at  first  why  there  was  such  excitement  in 
the  very  air.  Then  I  found  out  that  the  mob  was 
ready  to  come  and  ruin  you,  and  to  drag  him  out  to 
answer  them,  as  they  did  the  Loyalists  in  Boston. 
And  there  were  many  strangers  on  our  side  of  the 
river.  I  heard  a  horrid  humming  in  the  crowd  that 
gathered  when  the  captain  came ;  they  kept  together 
after  he  was  in  the  house,  and  I  feared  that  they  were 


88  THE  TORY  LOVER 

bent  upon  a  worse  errand.  I  was  thankful  to  know 
that  Roger  was  in  Portsmouth,  so  nothing  could  be 
done  that  night.  When  he  caine  to  me  suddenly  a 
little  later,"  —  the  girl's  voice  began  to  falter,  —  "I 
was  angry  with  him  at  first ;  I  thought  only  of  you.  I 
see  now  that  I  was  cruel." 

"  My  son  has  been  taught  to  honor  and  to  serve  his 
King,"  said  Madam  Wallingford  coldly. 

"  He  has  put  his  country  above  his  King,  now," 
answered  Mary  Hamilton,  who  had  steadied  herself 
and  could  go  on  :  yet  something  hindered  her  from 
saying  more,  and  the  wind  kept  up  its  steady  plaint 
in  the  chimney,  but  in  this  difficult  moment  the  little 
bird  was  still. 

"  To  us,  our  King  and  country  have  been  but  one. 
I  own  that  the  colonies  have  suffered  hardship,  and 
not  alone  through  willfulness ;  but  to  give  the  reins  of 
government  to  unfit  men,  to  put  high  matters  into  the 
hands  of  rioters  and  lawbreakers,  can  only  bring  ruin. 
I  could  not  find  it  in  my  heart  to  blame  him,  even  after 
the  hasty  Declaration,  when  he  would  not  join  with 
English  troops  to  fight  the  colonies ;  but  to  join  the 
rebels  to  fight  England  should  shame  a  house  like  this. 
Our  government  is  held  a  high  profession  among  the 
wise  of  England  ;  these  foolish  people  will  bring  us 
all  upon  the  quicksands.  If  my  son  had  sailed  with 
officers  and  gentlemen,  such  "  — 

"  He  has  sailed  with  a  hero,"  said  Mary  hotly,  "  and 
in  company  with  good  men  of  our  own  neighborhood, 
in  whom  he  can  put  his  trust." 

"  Let  us  not  quarrel,"  answered  the  lady  more  gently. 
She  leaned  her  head  against  the  chair  side,  and  looked 
strangely  pale  and  old.  "  'T  is  true  I  sent  for  you  to 
accuse  you,  and  now  you  are  here  I  only  long  for  com- 


THAT  TIME   OF  YEAR  89 

fort.     I  am  the  mother  of  an  only  son ;  I  am  a  widow, 

—  little  you  know  what  that  can  mean,  —  and  my  prop 
has  gone.     Yet  I  would  have  sent  him  proudly  to  the 
wars,  like  a  mother  of  ancient  days,  did  I  but  think 
the  quarrel  just.      I   could  but   bless  him  when  he 
wakened  me  and  knelt  beside  my  bed,  and  looked  so 
noble,  telling  his  eager  story.     I  did  not  think  his  own 
heart  altogether  fixed  upon  this  change  until  he  said 
his   country  would   have  need  of   him.      'All   your 
country,  boy ! '   I   begged  him  then,  '  not  alone  this 
willful  portion  of  our  heritage.     Can  you  forget  that 
you  are  English  born  ?  ' 

"  Then  he  rose  up  and  stood  upon  his  feet,  and  I  saw 
that  I  had  looked  my  last  upon  his  boyish  days.  '  No, 
dear  mother,'  he  told  me,  '  I  am  beginning  to  remem 
ber  it ! '  and  he  stooped  and  kissed  me,  and  stood  be 
tween  the  curtains  looking  down  at  me,  till  I  myself 
could  see  his  face  no  more,  I  was  so  blind  with  tears. 
Then  he  kissed  me  yet  again,  and  went  quick  away, 
and  I  could  hear  him  sobbing  in  the  hall.  I  would 
not  have  him  break  his  word  though  my  own  heart 
should  break  instead,  and  I  rose  then  and  put  on  my 
double-gown,  and  I  called  to  Susan,  who  wept  aloud, 

—  I  even  chid  her  at  last  for  that,  and  her  foolish 
questions ;  and  all  through  the  dead  of  night  we  gath 
ered  the  poor  child's  hasty  plenishings.     Now  I  can 
only  weep  for  things  forgotten.     'T  was  still  dark  when 
he  rode  away ;  when  the  tide  turned,  the  river  cried 
all  along  its  banks,  as  it  did  that  long  night  when  his 
father  lay  dead  in  the  house.     I  prayed ;  I  even  lin 
gered,  hoping  that  he  might  be  too  late,  and  the  ship 
gone  to  sea.     When  he  unpacks  the  chest,  he  will  not 
see  the  tears  that  fell  there.     I  cannot  think  of  our 
parting,  it  hurts  my  heart  so.  ...  He  bade  me  give 


90  THE  TORY  LOVER 

his  love  to  you  ;  lie  said  that  God  could  not  be  so  cruel 
as  to  forbid  his  return. 

"  Mary  Hamilton  !  "  and  suddenly,  as  she  spoke,  all 
the  plaintive  bewailing  of  her  voice,  all  the  regretful 
memories,  were  left  behind.  "  Oh,  Mary  Hamilton, 
tell  me  why  you  have  done  this !  All  my  children 
are  in  their  graves  save  this  one  youngest  son.  Since 
I  was  widowed  I  have  gathered  age  even  beyond  my 
years,  and  a  heavy  burden  of  care  belongs  to  this 
masterless  house.  I  am  a  woman  full  of  fears  and 
weak  in  body.  My  own  forefathers  and  my  husband's 
house  alike  have  never  refused  their  loyal  service  to 
church  and  state.  Who  can  stand  in  my  son's  place 
now  ?  He  was  early  and  late  at  his  business  ;  the  poor 
boy's  one  ambition  was  to  make  his  father  less  missed 
by  those  who  look  to  us  for  help.  What  is  a  little 
soldiering,  a  trading  vessel  sunk  or  an  English  town 
affrighted,  to  the  service  he  could  give  at  home  ?  Had 
you  only  thought  of  this,  had  you  only  listened  to  those 
who  are  wiser  than  we,  had  you  remembered  that 
these  troubles  must  be,  in  the  end,  put  down,  you  could 
not  have  been  unjust.  I  never  dreamed  that  the  worst 
blow  that  could  fall  upon  me,  except  my  dear  son  had 
died,  could  be  struck  me  by  your  hand.  Had  you  no 
pity,  that  you  urged  my  boy  to  go  ?  Tell  me  why  you 
were  willing.  Tell  me,  I  command  you,  why  you  have 
done  this  !  " 

Mary  was  standing,  white  as  a  flower  now,  before 
her  dear  accuser.  The  quick  scarlet  flickered  for  one 
moment  in  her  cheeks  ;  her  frightened  eyes  never  for 
one  moment  left  Madam  Wallingford's  face. 

"  You  must  answer  me  ! "  the  old  mother  cried  again, 
shaken  with  passion  and  despair. 

"  Because  I  loved  you,"  said  the  girl  then,  and  a 


THAT  TIME   OF  YEAR  91 

flash  of  light  was  on  her  face  that  matched  the  thrill  in 
her  voice.  "  God  forgive  me,  I  had  no  other  reason," 
she  answered,  as  if  she  were  a  prisoner  at  the  bar,  and 
her  very  life  hung  upon  the  words. 

Madam  Wallingford  had  spent  all  the  life  that 
was  in  her.  Sleepless  nights  had  robbed  her  of  her 
strength  ;  she  was  withered  by  her  grief  into  something 
like  the  very  looks  of  death.  All  the  long  nights,  all 
the  long  hours  since  she  had  lost  her  son,  she  had  said 
these  things  over  to  herself,  that  she  might  say  them 
clear  to  those  who  ought  to  listen.  They  had  now 
been  said,  and  her  poor  brain  that  had  shot  its  force 
of  anger  and  misery  to  another  heart  was  cold  like  the 
firelock  that  has  sped  its  ball.  She  sank  back  into 
the  chair,  faint  with  weakness  ;  she  put  out  her  hands 
as  if  she  groped  for  help.  "  Oh,  Mary,  Mary  !  "  she 
entreated  now ;  and  again  Mary,  forgetting  all,  was 
ready  with  fond  heart  to  comfort  her. 

"  It  is  of  no  use  !  "  exclaimed  Madam  Wallingford, 
rousing  herself  at  last,  and  speaking  more  coldly  than 
before.  "  I  can  only  keep  to  one  thought,  —  that  my 
son  has  gone.  'T  is  Love  brings  all  our  pain ;  this  is 
what  it  means  to  have  a  child  ;  my  joy  and  my  sorrow 
are  one,  and  the  light  of  my  life  casts  its  shadow ! 
And  I  have  always  loved  you ;  I  have  wished  many  a 
time,  in  the  old  days,  that  you  were  my  own  little  girl. 
And  now  I  am  told  that  this  adventurer  has  won  your 
heart,  —  this  man  who  speaks  much  of  Glory,  lest 
Glory  should  forget  to  speak  of  him ;  that  you  have 
even  made  my  son  a  sacrifice  to  pride  and  ambition  !  " 

Mary's  cheeks  flamed,  her  eyes  grew  dark  and  angry ; 
she  tried  to  speak,  but  she  looked  in  her  accuser's  face, 
and  first  a  natural  rage,  and  then  a  sudden  pity  and 
the  old  love,  held  her  dumb. 


92  THE   TORY  LOVER 

"  Forgive  me,  then,"  said  Madam  Wallingford, 
looking  at  her,  and  into  her  heart  there  crept  unwonted 
shame. 

"  You  do  me  wrong ;  you  would  wrong  both  your 
son  and  me !  "  and  Mary  had  sprung  away  next 
moment  from  her  side.  "  I  have  told  only  the  truth. 
I  was  harsh  to  Koger  when  I  had  never  known  him 
false,  and  I  almost  hated  him  because  he  seemed  un 
settled  in  his  course.  I  even  thought  that  the  rising 
against  the  Loyalists  had  frighted  him,  and  I  hated 
him  when  I  thought  he  was  seeking  shelter.  He  came 
that  very  night  to  tell  me  that  he  was  for  the  Patriots, 
and  was  doing  all  a  brave  man  could,  and  standing  for 
Liberty  with  the  rest  of  us.  Then  I  knew  better  than 
he  how  far  the  distrust  of  him  had  gone,  and  I  took 
it  upon  myself  to  plead  with  the  captain  of  the  Ranger. 
I  knew  too  well  that  if,  already  prejudiced  by  envious 
tales,  he  turned  the  commission  down,  the  mob  would 
quick  take  the  signal.  'T  was  for  love  of  my  friends 
I  acted ;  something  drove  me  past  myself,  that 
night.  If  Roger  should  die,  if  indeed  I  have  robbed 
you  of  your  son,  this  was  the  part  I  took.  I  would 
not  have  done  otherwise.  He  has  taken  a  man's  part 
for  Liberty,  and  I  thank  God.  Now  I  have  told  you 
all." 

They  were  facing  each  other  again.  Mary's  voice 
was  broken ;  she  could  say  no  more.  Then,  with  a 
quick  change  of  look  and  with  a  splendid  gesture, 
Madam  Wallingford  rose  from  her  place  like  a  queen. 
Her  face  shone  with  sudden  knowledge  of  new  happi 
ness  ;  she  held  out  her  arms,  —  no  queen  and  no  ac 
cuser,  but  only  a  bereft  woman,  a  loving  heart  that  had 
been  beggared  of  all  comfort.  "  Come,  my  darling," 
she  whispered;  "you  must  forgive  me  everything,  and 


THAT   TIME   OF  YEAR  93 

love  me  the  more  for  my  poor  weakness;  you  will  help 
me  to  have  patience  all  these  weary  months." 

The  sun  broke  out  again  from  behind  a  thick, 
low-hanging  cloud,  and  flooded  all  the  dark  chamber. 
Again  the  Indian  stuffs  looked  warm  and  bright ;  the 
fire  sprang  on  the  hearth  as  if  upon  an  altar :  it  was 
as  if  Heaven's  own  light  had  smiled  into  the  room. 
Poor  Mary's  young  pride  was  sore  hurt  and  distressed, 
but  her  old  friend's  wonted  look  of  kindness  was 
strangely  coming  back ;  she  showed  all  her  familiar 
affectionateness  as  if  she  had  passed  a  great  crisis.  As 
for  the  lad  whom  they  had  wept  and  quarreled  over, 
and  for  whose  sake  they  had  come  back  again  to  each 
other's  hearts,  he  was  far  out  upon  the  gray  and  tum 
bling  sea ;  every  hour  took  him  farther  and  farther 
from  home. 

And  now  Madam  Wallingford  must  talk  of  him 
with  Mary,  and  tell  her  everything ;  how  he  had 
chosen  but  two  books,  —  his  Bible  and  an  old  vol 
ume  of  French  essays  that  Master  Sullivan  had  given 
him  when  he  went  to  college.  "  'T  was  his  copy  of 
Shakespeare's  plays,"  said  she,  "that  he  wanted  most ; 
but  in  all  our  hurry,  and  with  dull  candlelight,  we 
could  find  it  nowhere,  and  yesterday  I  saw  it  lying 
here  on  my  chest  of  drawers.  'T  is  not  so  many  days 
since  he  read  me  a  pretty  piece  of  The  Tempest,  as  we 
sat  together.  I  can  hear  his  voice  now  as  he  read : 
't  was  like  a  lover,  the  way  he  said  '  my  noble  mistress  ! ' 
and  I  could  but  smile  to  hear  him.  He  saw  the  great 
Garrick  in  his  best  characters,  when  he  was  in  London. 
Roger  was  ever  a  pretty  reader  when  he  was  a  boy. 
'T  is  a  gift  the  dullest  child  might  learn  from  Master 
Sullivan." 


94  THE  TORY  LOVER 

The  mother  spoke  fondly  between  smiles  and  tears ; 
the  old  book  lay  open  on  her  knee,  and  something 
dropped  to  the  floor,  —  a  twig  of  faded  witch-hazel 
blossoms  that  her  son  had  held  in  his  fingers  as  he 
read,  and  left  between  the  leaves  for  a  marker ;  a  twig 
of  witch-hazel,  perhaps  from  the  same  bough  that 
Mary  had  broken  as  she  came.  It  were  easy  to  count 
it  for  a  message  where  some  one  else  might  think  of 
but  a  pretty  accident.  Mary  stooped  and  picked  the 
withered  twig  of  blossoms  from  the  floor,  and  played 
with  it,  smiling  as  Madam  Wallingford  talked  on,  and 
they  sat  together  late  into  the  autumn  twilight.  The 
poor  lady  was  like  one  who,  by  force  of  habit,  takes  up 
the  life  of  every  day  again  when  death  has  been  in 
the  house.  The  familiar  presence  of  her  young  neigh 
bor  had  cured  her  for  the  moment  of  the  pain  of 
loneliness,  but  the  sharp  words  she  had  spoken  in  her 
distress  would  ache  for  many  a  day  in  Mary's  heart. 

Mary  could  not  understand  that  strange  moment 
when  she  had  been  forgiven.  Yet  the  hardest  soul 
might  have  compassion  for  a  poor  woman  so  over 
wrought  and  defeated ;  she  was  still  staggering  from 
a  heavy  blow. 

It  was  dark  when  they  parted,  and  Madam  Wal 
lingford  showed  a  strange  solicitude  after  her  earlier 
reproaches,  and  forbade  Mary  when  she  would  have 
crossed  the  river  alone.  She  took  a  new  air  of  right 
ful  command,  and  Rodney  must  send  two  of  the  men 
with  their  own  boat,  and  put  by  the  canoe  until  morn 
ing.  The  stars  were  bright  and  quick  as  diamonds 
overhead,  and  it  was  light  enough  on  the  water,  as  they 
crossed.  The  candlelight  in  the  upper  chamber  on  the 
hill  looked  dim,  as  if  there  were  illness  in  the  house. 

Indeed,  Madam  Wallingford  was  trembling  with 


THAT  TIME  OF  YEAR  95 

cold  since  her  young  guest  had  gone.  Susan  wrapped 
her  in  an  old  cloak  of  soft  fur,  as  she  sat  beside  the 
fire,  and  turned  often  to  look  at  her  anxiously,  as  she 
piled  the  fagots  and  logs  on  the  hearth  until  their 
flame  towered  high. 

"  Dear  child,  dear  child,"  the  poor  lady  said  over 
and  over  in  her  heart.  "  I  think  she  does  not  know  it 
yet,  but  I  believe  she  loves  my  son." 

That  night  old  Susan  hovered  about  her  mistress, 
altering  the  droop  of  the  bed  curtains  and  untwisting 
the  balls  of  their  fringe  with  a  businesslike  air ;  then 
she  put  some  heavy  knots  of  wood  on  the  fire  for  the 
night,  and  built  it  solidly  together,  until  the  leaping 
lights  and  shadows  played  fast  about  the  room.  She 
glanced  as  often  as  she  dared  at  the  tired  face  on  the 
pillow. 

"  'T  is  a  wild  night,  Susan,"  said  Madam  Walling- 
ford.  "  I  thought  the  wind  was  going  down  with  the 
sun.  How  often  I  have  watched  for  my  dear  man 
such  nights  as  this,  when  he  was  kept  late  in  Ports 
mouth  !  'T  was  well  we  lived  in  town  those  latest 
winters.  You  remember  that  Rodney  always  kept  the 
fire  bright  in  the  dining  parlor  ('t  is  a  cosy  place  in 
winter),  and  put  a  tankard  of  mulled  wine  inside  the 
fender ;  't  would  bring  back  the  color  to  his  face  all 
chilled  with  winter  rain,  and  the  light  into  his  eyes. 
And  Roger  would  come  in  with  him,  holding  his 
father's  hand  ;  he  would  ever  run  out  bareheaded  in 
the  wet,  while  I  called  to  them  from  the  door  to  come 
in  and  let  the  horse  go  to  stable,  and  they  laughed  at 
me  for  my  fears.  Where  is  Roger  to-night,  I  wonder, 
Susan  ?  They  cannot  be  in  port  for  a  long  time  yet. 
I  hate  to  think  of  him  on  the  sea !  ' 


96  THE  TORY  LOVER 

"  Maybe  't  is  morning  there,  and  the  sun  out, 
madam." 

"  Susan,"  said  Madam  Wallingford,  "  you  used  to 
sing  to  him  when  he  was  a  baby  ;  sit  near  the  fire 
awhile,  —  there  is  no  more  for  you  to  do.  Sing  one  of 
your  old  hymns,  so  that  I  may  go  to  sleep  ;  perhaps 
it  will  quiet  his  heart,  too,  if  we  are  quiet  and  try  to 
be  at  peace." 

The  very  shadows  grew  stiller,  as  if  to  listen,  as 
the  patient  old  handmaiden  came  and  sat  beside  the 
bed  and  began  to  sing,  moving  her  foot  as  if  she  still 
held  the  restless  baby  who  had  grown  to  be  a  man. 
There  were  quavering  notes  in  her  voice,  but  when 
she  had  sung  all  her  pious  verses  of  the  Cradle  Hymn 
to  their  very  end  Madam  Wallingford  was  fast  asleep. 


XII 

BETWEEN   DECKS 

"  '  But  when  shall  I  see  Athens  and  the  Acropolis  again  ?  ' 

"  '  Wretched  man!  doth  not  that  satisfy  thee  which  thou  seest  every 

day  ?     Hast  thou  aught  Letter  or  greater  to  see  than  the  sun,  the 

moon,  the  stars,  the  common  earth,  the  sea  ?  ' " 

"  Who  would  Hercules  have  been  if  he  had  sat  at  home  ?  " 

THE  Ranger  was  under  full  sail,  and  ran  like  a 
hound ;  she  had  cleared  the  Banks  with  all  their 
snow  squalls  and  thick  nights,  without  let  or  hin 
drance.  The  captain's  boast  that  he  would  land  his 
dispatches  and  spread  the  news  of  Burgoyne's  sur 
render  in  France  in  thirty  days  seemed  likely  to  come 
true.  The  men  were  already  beginning  to  show  effects 
of  constant  vigilance  and  overwork ;  but  whatever 
discomforts  might  arrive,  the  splendid  seamanship  of 
Paul  Jones  could  only  be  admired  by  such  thorough 
going  sailors  as  made  up  the  greater  portion  of  his 
crew.  The  younger  members  of  the  ship's  company 
were  full  of  gayety  if  the  wind  and  work  eased  ever 
so  little,  and  at  any  time,  by  night  or  day,  some  hearty 
voice  might  be  heard  practicing  the  strains  of  a  stirring 
song  new  made  by  one  of  the  midshipmen  :  — 

"  That  is  why  we  Brave  the  Blast 
To  carry  the  news  to  Lon-don." 

There  were  plenty  of  rival  factions  and  jealousies. 
The  river  men  were  against  all  strangers ;  and  even 


98  THE  TORY  LOVER 

the  river  men  had  their  own  divisions,  their  warm 
friendships  and  cold  aversions,  so  that  now  and  then 
some  smouldering  fire  came  perilously  near  an  out 
break.  The  tremendous  pressure  of  work  alow  and 
aloft,  the  driving  wind,  the  heavy  tumbling  seas,  the 
constant  exposure  and  strain  in  such  trying  duty  and 
incessant  service  of  the  sails,  put  upon  every  man  all 
that  he  could  well  bear,  and  sent  him  to  his  berth  as 
tired  as  a  dog. 

It  takes  but  little  while  for  a  good  shipmaster  to 
discover  who  are  the  difficult  men  in  his  crew,  the  sea 
lawyers  and  breeders  of  dissatisfaction.  The  captain 
of  the  Ranger  was  a  man  of  astonishing  readiness  both 
to  blame  and  praise ;  nobody  could  resist  his  inspirit 
ing  enthusiasm  and  dominating  presence,  but  in  absence 
he  was  often  proved  wrong,  and  roundly  cursed,  as 
captains  are,  with  solid  satisfaction  of  resentment. 
Everybody  cheered  when  he  boldly  declared  against 
flogging,  and  even  tossed  that  horrid  sear-going  imple 
ment,  the  cat,  lightly  over  the  ship's  side.  Even  in 
this  surprising  moment,  one  of  the  old  seamen  had 
growled  that  when  you  saw  a  man  too  good,  it  was 
the  time  to  look  out  for  him. 

"  I  dasen't  say  but  it 's  about  time  to  get  a  fuss  go 
ing,"  said  one  of  these  mariners  to  a  friend,  later  on. 
"  Generally  takes  about  ten  days  to  start  a  row  atween 
decks,  'less  you  're  extra  eased  off  with  good  weather." 

"  This  bad  weather 's  all  along  o'  Dickson,"  ventured 
his  comrade  ;  "  if  they  'd  known  what  they  was  about, 
he  'd  been  the  fust  man  they  'd  hasted  to  set  ashore.  I 
know  him  ;  I  've  knowed  him  ever  since  he  was  a  boy. 
I  see  him  get  a  black  stripe  o'  rage  acrost  his  face  when 
he  seen  Mr.  Wallin'ford  come  aboard,  that  mornin'. 
Wallin'ford's  folks  cotched  him  thievin'  when  he  had 


BETWEEN  DECKS  99 

his  fat  chance  o'  surveyor  up  country,  after  the  old 
judge  died.  He  cut  their  growth  on  his  own  account 
and  done  a  sight  o'  tricks,  and  Madam  dismissed  him, 
and  would  ha'  jailed  him  but  for  pity  of  his  folks.  I 
always  wished  she  'd  done  it ;  't  would  ha'  stamped 
him  plain,  if  he  'd  seen  the  inside  o'  old  York  jail  for 
a  couple  o'  years.  As  't  was,  he  had  his  own  story  to 
tell,  and  made  out  how  he  was  the  injured  one  ;  so 
there  was  some  o'  them  fools  that  likes  to  be  on  the 
off  side  that  went  an'  upheld  him.  Oh,  Dickson's 
smart,  and  some  calls  him  pious,  but  I  wish  you  'd  seen 
him  the  day  Madam  Wallin'f ord  sent  for  him  to  speak 
her  mind !  That  mornin'  we  was  sailin'  out  o'  Porch- 
mouth,  I  see  him  watch  the  young  man  as  if  he  was 
layin'  for  him  like  a  tiger !  There  he  is  now,  comin' 
out  o'  the  cabin.  I  guess  the  cap'n  's  been  rakin'  him 
fore  an'  aft.  He  hates  him  ;  an'  Simpson  hates  him, 
too,  but  not  so  bad.  Simpson  don't  jibe  with  the  cap'n 
hisself,  so  he  demeans  himself  to  hark  to  Dickson 
more  'n  he  otherwise  would.  Lord,  what  a  cur'ous 
world  this  is  !  " 

"  What 's  that  n'ise  risin'  out  o'  the  fo'c's'le  now, 
Cooper  ?  Le'  's  go  see  !  "  and  the  two  old  comrades 
made  haste  to  go  below. 

Paul  Jones  gave  a  hearty  sigh,  as  he  sat  alone  in  his 
cabin,  and  struck  his  fist  into  the  empty  air.  He  also 
could  hear  the  sound  of  a  loud  quarrel  from  the  gun 
deck,  and  for  a  moment  indulged  a  fierce  hope  that 
somebody  might  be  well  punished,  or  even  killed,  just 
to  lessen  the  number  of  citizens  in  this  wrangling  vil 
lage  with  which  he  had  put  to  sea.  They  had  brought 
aboard  all  the  unsettled  rivalries  and  jealousies  of  a 
most  independent  neighborhood. 


100  THE  TORY  LOVER 

He  looked  about  him  as  he  sat ;  then  rose  and  impa 
tiently  closed  one  of  his  lockers  where  there  was  an 
untidy  fold  of  crumpled  clothing  hanging  out.  What 
miserable  surroundings  and  conditions  for  a  man  of 
inborn  fastidiousness  and  refinement  of  nature ! 

Yet  this  new  ship,  so  fast  growing  toward  the  dis 
gusting  squalor  of  an  old  one  ;  these  men,  with  their 
cheap  suspicions  and  narrow  ambitions,  were  the  strong 
tools  ready  to  his  hand.  It  was  a  manly  crew  as  crews 
go,  and  like-minded  in  respect  to  their  country's 
wrongs. 

"  I  feel  it  in  my  breast  that  I  shall  some  day  be 
master  in  a  great  sea  fight !  "  said  the  little  captain  as 
he  sat  alone,  while  the  Eanger  labored  against  the 
waves,  and  the  light  of  heroic  endurance  came  back 
to  his  eyes  as  he  saw  again  the  splendid  vision  that 
had  ever  led  him  on. 

"Curse  that  scoundrel  Dickson!"  and  his  look 
darkened.  "  Patience,  patience  !  If  I  were  a  better 
sleeper,  I  could  face  everything  that  can  come  in  a 
man's  day ;  I  could  face  the  devil  himself.  The  wind 's 
in  the  right  quarter  now,  and  the  sea 's  going  down. 
I  '11  go  on  deck  and  give  all  hands  some  grog,  —  I  '11 
give  it  them  myself ;  the  poor  fellows  are  cold  and  wet, 
and  they  serve  me  like  men.  We  're  getting  past  the 
worst,"  and  again  Paul  Jones  fell  to  studying  his  charts 
as  if  they  were  love  letters  writ  by  his  lady's  hand. 

Cooper  and  Hanscom  had  come  below  to  join  the 
rest  of  their  watch,  and  still  sat  side  by  side,  being 
old  shipmates  and  friends.  There  was  an  easy  sort 
of  comfort  in  being  together.  Just  now  they  spoke 
again  in  low  voices  of  young  Mr.  Wallingford. 

"  Young  master  looks  wamble-cropped  to  me,"  said 


BETWEEN  DECKS  10L-- 


Hanscom.     "  Don't  fancy  privateeria'  so  well  as^j 

a  blood  horse  on  Porchmouth  Parade,  aiifl.beir.'j 

by  the  Tory  big-bugs.     Looks  wintry  in  the  face  to 

me." 

"  Lord  bless  us,  when  he  's  old  's  we  are,  he  '11  1'arn 
that  spring  al'ays  gets  round  again  long  's  a  creatur'  's 
alive,"  answered  Cooper,  who  instinctively  gave  a  gen 
eral  turn  to  the  discussion.  "  Ary  thing  that  's  livin' 
knows  its  four  seasons,  an'  I  've  long  maintained  that 
after  the  wust  o'  winter,  spring  usu'lly  doos  come  fol- 
lerin'  right  on." 

"  I  don't  know  but  it  's  so,"  agreed  his  mate  politely. 
Cooper  would  have  these  fanciful  notions,  while  Hans 
com  was  a  plain-spoken  man. 

"  What  I  'd  like  to  know,"  said  he,  "  yes,  what  I  'd 
like  to  ascertain,  is  what  young  Squire  Wallin'ford 
ever  come  for  ;  't  ain't  in  his  blood  to  fight  on  our  side, 
an'  he  's  too  straight-minded  to  play  the  sneak.  Also, 
he  never  come  from  cowardice.  No,  I  can't  make  it 
out  noway.  Sometimes  folks  mistakes  their  duty,  and 
risks  their  all.  Bain't  spyin'  round  to  do  no  hurt,  is 
he  ?  —  or  is  he  ?  " 

There  was  a  sharp  suggestion  in  the  way  this  ques 
tion  was  put,  and  Cooper  turned  fiercely  upon  his 
companion. 

"  Hunscom,  I  be  ashamed  of  you  !  "  he  said  scornfully, 
and  said  no  more.  There  was  a  dull  warmth  of  color 
in  his  hard,  sea-smitten  face  ;  he  was  an  elderly,  quiet 
man,  with  a  round,  pleasant  countenance  unaltered  in 
the  worst  of  weather,  and  a  look  of  kindly  tolerance. 

"  There  's  b'en  some  consid'able  changin'  o'  sides  in 
our  neighborhood,  as  you  know,"  he  said,  a  few  mo 
ments  later,  in  his  usual  tone.  "  Young  Wallin'ford 
went  to  school  to  Master  Sullivan,  and  the  old  master 


•102  :THE  TORY  LOVER 

Farnt  .everybody  -he  could  1'arn  to  be  honest  an' 
•  square,' to  hold?  by  their  word,  an'  be  afeard  o'  nothin'." 

"  Pity  't  was  that  Dickson  could  n't  ha'  got  a  term 
o'  such  schoolin',"  said  Hanscom,  as  they  beheld  that 
shipmate's  unwelcome  face  peering  down  the  com 
panion. 

"  Sometimes  I  wish  I  was  to  home  again,"  announced 
Cooper,  in  an  unexpected  fit  of  despondency.  "  I  don' 
know  why ;  't  ain't  usual  with  me  to  have  such  feelin's 
in  the  outset  of  a  v'y'ge.  I  grow  sicker  every  day  o' 
this  flat,  striviii'  sea.  I  was  raised  on  a  good  hill.  I 
don'  know  how  I  ever  come  to  f oiler  the  sea,  anyway!" 

The  forecastle  was  a  forlorn  abiding-place  at  best, 
and  crowded  at  any  hour  almost  past  endurance.  The 
one  hint  of  homeliness  and  decency  was  in  the  well- 
made  sea  chests,  which  had  not  been  out  of  place 
against  a  steadier  wall  in  the  farmhouses  whence  most 
of  them  had  come.  They  were  of  plain  wood,  with  a 
touch  of  art  in  their  rude  carving  ;  many  of  them  were 
painted  dull  green  or  blue.  There  were  others  with 
really  handsome  escutcheons  of  wrought  iron,  and  all 
were  graced  with  fine  turk's-heads  to  their  rope  handles, 
and  every  ingenuity  of  sailors'  fancywork. 

There  was  a  grumbling  company  of  able  seamen, 
their  owners,  who  had  no  better  place  to  sit  than  the 
chest  tops,  or  to  stretch  at  idle  length  with  these 
treasuries  to  lean  against.  The  cold  sea  was  nearer 
to  a  man  than  when  he  was  on  deck  and  could  reassure 
himself  of  freedom  by  a  look  at  the  sky.  The  ham 
mocks  were  here  and  there  sagging  with  the  rounded 
bulk  of  a  sleeping  owner,  and  all  jerked  uneasily  as 
the  vessel  pitened  and  rolled  by  turns.  The  air  was 
close  and  heavy  with  dampness  and  tobacco  smoke. 


BETWEEN  DECKS  103 

At  this  moment  the  great  sea  boots  of  Simon  Staples 
were  seen  descending  from  the  deck  above,  and  stum 
bling  dangerously  on  the  slippery  straight  ladder. 

"  Handsomely,  handsomely,"  urged  a  spectator,  with 
deep  solicitude. 

"  She  's  goin'  large  now,  ain't  she  ?  How 's  she 
headin'  now  ?  "  asked  a  man  named  Grant. 

"  She  's  full  an'  by,  an'  headin'  east  by  south  half 
east,  —  same  's  we  struck  out  past  the  Isles  o'  Shoals," 
was  the  mirthful  answer.  "  She  can't  keep  to  nothin', 
an'  the  cap'n  's  got  to  make  another  night  on 't.  But 
she  's  full  an'  by,  just  now,  all  you  lazy  larbowlines," 
he  repeated  cheerfully,  at  last  getting  his  head  down 
under  decks  as  his  foot  found  the  last  step.  "  She 's 
been  on  a  good  leadin'  wind  this  half  hour  back,  an' 
he  's  got  the  stu'n'sails  set  again;  't  is  all  luff  an'  touch 
her,  this  v'y'ge." 

There  was  a  loud  groan  from  the  listeners.  The 
captain  insisted  upon  spreading  every  rag  the  ship 
could  stagger  under,  and  while  they  admired  his  per 
sistent  daring,  it  was  sometimes  too  much  for  flesh 
and  blood. 

Staples  was  looking  ruefully  at  his  yarn  mittens. 
They  were  far  beyond  the  possibility  of  repair,  and 
he  took  off  first  one  and  then  the  other  of  these  cher 
ished  reminders  of  much  logging  experience,  and, 
sitting  on  his  sea  chest,  began  to  ravel  what  broken 
gray  yarn  was  left  and  to  wind  it  into  a  ball. 

"  Goin'  to  knit  you  another  pair  ?  "  inquired  Hans- 
corn.  "  That 's  clever ;  empl'y  your  idle  moments." 

"Mend  up  his  stockin's,  you  fool!"  explained 
Grant,  who  was  evidently  gifted  with  some  sympa 
thetic  imagination. 

"  I  wish  they  was  thumbs  up  on  the  stakes  o'  my 


104  THE   TORY  LOVER 

old  wood-sled,"  said  Staples.  "  There,  when  I  'm  to 
sea  I  wish  's  how  I  was  lumberin',  an'  when  I  'm  in 
the  woods  I  'm  plottin'  how  to  git  to  sea  again  ;  ain't 
no  suitin'  of  me  neither  way.  I  al'ays  wanted  to  be 
aboard  a  fast  sailer,  an'  here  I  be  thrashin'  along,  an' 
lamentin'  'cause  my  mittins  is  wore  out  the  fust 
fortnight." 

"  My !  I  wish  old  Master  Hackett  that  built  her 
could  see  how  she  runs !  "  he  exclaimed  next  moment, 
as  if  a  warm  admiration  still  had  power  to  cheer  him. 
"  I  marked  her  lines  for  a  beauty  the  day  I  see  her 
launched :  't  was  what  drove  me  here.  There  was 
plenty  a-watchin'  her  on  Langdon's  Island  that  hoped 
she  'd  stick  in  the  stays,  but  she  took  the  water  like  a 
young  duck." 

"  He  'd  best  not  carry  so  much  sail  when  she 's 
clawin'  to  wind'ard  close  hauled,"  growled  James 
Chase,  an  old  Nantucket  seaman,  with  a  warning 
shake  of  the  head.  "  'T  won't  take  much  to  lay  her 
clear  down,  I  can  tell  him  !  I  never  see  a  ship  drove 
so,  in  my  time.  Lord  help  every  soul  aboard  if  she 
wa'n't  so  weatherly  !  " 

Fernald  and  Sherburne,  old  Portsmouth  sailors, 
wagged  their  sage  heads  in  solemn  agreement ;  but 
William  Young,  a  Dover  man,  with  a  responsible 
look,  was  waiting  with  some  impatience  for  Chase 
to  stand  out  of  the  poor  supply  of  light  that  came 
down  the  narrow  hatchway.  Young  was  reading  an 
old  copy  of  the  New  Hampshire  Gazette  that  had 
already  been  the  solace  of  every  reading  man  aboard. 

"  What  in  time  's  been  the  matter  amongst  ye  ?  " 
Staples  now  inquired,  with  interest.  "  I  heard  as 
how  there  was  a  fuss  goin'  down  below;  ain't  ary 
bully-raggin'  as  I  can  see ;  dull  as  meetin' !  "  Hans- 


BETWEEN   DECKS  105 

com  and  Cooper  looked  up  eagerly ;  some  of  the  other 
men  only  laughed  for  answer  ;  but  Chase  signified 
that  the  trouble  lay  with  their  messmate  Starbuck, 
who  appeared  to  be  surly,  and  sat  with  his  back  to  the 
company.  He  now  turned  and  displayed  a  much- 
disfigured  countenance,  but  said  nothing. 

"What's  the  cap'n  about  now  ?"  Chase  hastened 
to  inquire  pointedly. 

"  He 's  up  there  a-cunnin'  the  ship,"  answered 
Staples.  "  He  's  workin'  the  life  out  o'  Grosvenor  at 
the  wheel.  I  just  come  from  the  maintop  ;  my  arms 
aches  as  if  they  'd  been  broke  with  a  crowbar.  I  lost 
my  holt  o'  the  life  line  whilst  we  was  settin'  the 
stu'n's'l  there  on  the  niaintops'l  yard,  an'  I  give  me  a 
dreadful  wrench.  He  had  n't  ought  to  send  them 
green  boys  to  such  places,  neither ;  pore  little  Johnny 
Downes  was  makin'  out  to  do  his  stent  like  a  man, 
but  the  halyards  got  fouled  in  the  jewel  blocks,  an' 
for  all  he  's  so  willin'-hearted  the  tears  was  a-runnin' 
down  his  cheeks  when  he  come  back.  I  was  skeert 
the  wind  'd  blow  him  off  like  a  whirligig  off  a  stick, 
an'  I  spoke  sharp  to  him  so 's  to  brace  him,  an'  give 
him  a  good  boxed  ear  when  I  got  him  in  reach.  He 
was  about  beat,  an'  half  froze  anyway  ;  his  fingers 
looked  like  the  p'ints  o'  parsnips.  When  he  got  back 
he  laid  right  over  acrost  the  cap.  I  left  him  up  there 
a-clingin'  on." 

"  He  worked  as  handsome  a  pair  o'  man-rope  knots 
as  I  ever  see,  settin'  here  this  mornin',"  said  Cooper, 
compassionately.  "  He  '11  make  a  good  smart  sailor, 
but  he  needs  to  grow ;  he 's  dreadful  small  to  send 
aloft  in  a  spell  o'  weather.  The  cap'n  don't  save 
himself,  this  v'y'ge,  nor  nobody  else." 

"  Come,  you  'd   as  good  's   hear  what   Starbuck 's 


106  THE  TORY  LOVER 

b'en  saying,"  said  Chase,  with  a  wink.  He  had  been 
waiting  impatiently  for  this  digression  to  end. 

"  That  spry-tempered  admiral  o'  yourn  don't  know 
how  to  treat  a  crew  ! "  Starbuck  burst  forth,  at  this 
convenient  opportunity.  "  Some  on  us  gits  a  whack 
ivery  time  he  parades  the  deck.  He's  re'lly  too 
outdacious  for  decent  folks.  This  arternoon  I  was 
a-loungin'  on  the  gratin's  an'  got  sort  o'  drowsin'  off, 
an'  I  niver  heared  him  comin'  nor  knowed  he  was 
there.  Along  he  come  like  some  upstropelous  poppet 
an'  give  me  a  cuff  side  o'  my  head.  I  dodged  the 
next  one,  an'  spoke  up  smart  'fore  I  knowed  what  I 
was  doin'.  '  Damn  ye,  le'  me  be !  '  says  I,  an'  he 
fetched  me  another  on  my  nose  here ;  most  stunded 
me. 

" i  I  '11 1'arn  ye  to  make  yourself  sca'ce  !  Keep  to 
the  port-hand  side  where  ye  belong!  Remember 
you  're  aboard  a  man-o'-war  ! '  says  he,  hollerin'  like  a 
crowin'  pullet.  '  'T  ain't  no  fishin'  smack !  Go  f or- 
rard  !  Out  o'  the  way  with  ye  !  '  says  he,  same  's  I 
was  a  stray  dog.  I  run  to  the  side,  my  nose  was 
a-bleedin'  so,  an'  I  fumbled  arter  somethin'  to  serve 
me  for  a  hankicher. 

"  4  Here  's  mine,'  says  he, '  but  you  've  got  to  under 
stand  there 's  discipline  on  this  frigate,'  says  he. 
Joseph  Fernald  knows  where  I  was,"  continued  the 
sufferer  ;  "  you  see  me,  Joseph,  when  you  come  past. 
'T  wa'n't  larboard  nor  starboard  ;  't  was  right  'mid 
ships,  'less  I  may  have  rolled  one  way  or  t'other. 
I  could  ha'  squinched  him  so  all  the  friends  he  'd  ever 
needed  'd  be  clargy  an'  saxon,  an'  then  to  pass  me 
his  linning  handkicher  's  if  I  was  a  young  lady  !  I 
dove  into  my  pockets  an'  come  upon  this  old  piece  o' 
callamink  I  'd  wropped  up  some  'baccy  in.  I  never 


BETWEEN  DECKS  107 

give  a  look  at  him ;  I  d'  know  but  he  gallded  me  more 
when  he  was  pleasant  'n  when  he  fetched  me  the  clip. 
I  ketched  up  a  lingum-vitse  marlinspike  I  see  by  me 
an'  took  arter  him.  I  should  ha'  hit  him  good,  but  he 
niver  turned  to  look  arter  me,  an'  I  come  to  reason. 
If  I  'd  had  time,  I  'd  ha'  hit  him,  if  I  'd  made  the  rest 
o'  this  v'y'ge  in  irons." 

"  Lord  sakes  !  don't  you  bluster  no  more !  "  advised 
old  Mr.  Cooper  soothingly,  with  a  disapproving  glance 
at  the  pleased  audience.  "  Shipmasters  like  him  ain't 
goin'  to  ask  ye  every  mornin'  how  seafarin'  agrees 
with  ye.  He  ain't  goin'  to  treat  hisself  nor  none  on 
us  like  passengers.  He  ain't  had  three  hours  sleep  a 
night  sence  this  v'y'ge  begun.  He 's  been  studyin' 
his  charts  this  day,  with  his  head  set  to  'em  on  the 
cabin  table  's  if  they  showed  the  path  to  heaven. 
They  was  English  charts,  too,  'long  by  Bristol  an'  up 
there  in  the  Irish  Sea.  I  see  'em  through  the  sky- 

light." 

"  I  '11  bate  he  's  figurin'  to  lay  outside  some  o'  them 
very  ports  an'  cut  out  some  han'some  prizes,"  said 
Falls,  one  of  the  gunners,  looking  down  out  of  his 
hammock.  Falls  was  a  young  man  full  of  enthusiasm, 
who  played  the  fiddle. 

"  You  '11  find  't  will  be  all  glory  for  him,  an'  no 
prizes  for  you,  my  young  musicianer ! "  answered 
Starbuck,  who  was  a  discouraged  person  by  nature. 
Now  that  he  had  a  real  grievance  his  spirits  seemed 
to  rise.  "Up  hammocks  all!  Show  a  leg!"  he 
gayly  ordered  the  gunner. 

"  Wall,  I  seldom  seen  so  good  a  navigator  as  the 
cap'n  in  my  time,"  insisted  Staples.  "He  knows 
every  man's  duty  well 's  his  own,  an'  that  he  knows 
to  a  maracle." 


108  THE   TORY  LOVER 

"  I  '11  bate  any  man  in  this  fo'c's'le  that  he  's  a  gre't 
fighter ;  you  wait  an'  see  the  little  wasp  when  he  's 
gittin'  into  action !  "  exclaimed  Chase,  who  had  been 
with  Paul  Jones  on  the  Alfred.  "  He  knows  no  fear 
an'  he  sticks  at  nothin' !  You  hold  on  till  we  're  safe 
in  Channel,  an'  sight  one  o'  them  fat-bellied  old  West 
Injymen  lo'ded  deep  an'  headed  up  for  London. 
Then  you  '11  see  Gre't  Works  in  a  way  you  niver 
expected." 

This  local  allusion  was  not  lost  upon  most  members 
of  the  larboard  watch,  and  Starbuck's  wrongs,  with 
the  increasing  size  of  his  once  useful  nose,  were  quite 
disregarded  in  the  hopeful  laughter  which  followed. 

"  Hand  me  the  keerds,"  said  one  of  the  men  lazily. 
"  Falls,  there,  knows  a  couple  o'  rale  queer  tricks." 

"  You  keep  'em  dowsed ;  if  he  thinks  we  ain't 
sleepin'  or  eatin',  so  's  to  git  our  courage  up,"  said 
Staples,  "  he  '11  have  every  soul  on  us  aloft.  Le'  's  set 
here  where  't  's  warm  an'  put  some  keckliii'  on  Star- 
buck  ;  the  cap'n  's  'n  all  places  to  once,  with  eyes  like 
gimblets,  an'  the  wind  's  a-blowin'  up  there  round  the 
lubber  holes  like  the  mouth  o'  hell." 

Chase,  the  Nantucket  sailor,  looked  at  him,  with  a 
laugh. 

"  What  a  farmer  you  be,"  he  exclaimed.  "  Makes 
me  think  of  a  countryman,  shipmate  o'  mine  on  the 
brig  Polly  Dunn.  We  was  whaling  in  the  South 
Seas,  an'  it  come  on  to  blow  like  fury ;  we  was  rollin' 
rails  under,  an'  I  was  well  skeert  myself;  feared  I 
could  n't  keep  my  holt ;  him  an'  me  was  on  the  fore 
yard  together.  He  looked  dreadful  easy  an'  pleasant. 
I  thought  he  'd  be  skeert  too,  if  he  knowed  enough, 
an'  I  kind  o'  swore  at  the  fool  an'  axed  him  what  he 
was  a-thinkin'  of.  '  Why,  't  is  the  20th  o'  May,'  says 


BETWEEN   DECKS  109 

he ;  '  all  the  caows  goes  to  pastur'  to-day,  to  home  in 
Eppin' ! ' " 

There  was  a  cheerful  chuckle  from  the  audience. 
Grant  alone  looked  much  perplexed. 

"Why,  't  is  the  day,  ain't  it?"  he  protested. 
"  What  be  you  all  a-laughin'  at  ?  " 

At  this  moment  there  was  a  strange  lull ;  the  wind 
fell,  and  the  Ranger  stopped  rolling,  and  then  stag 
gered  as  if  she  balked  at  some  unexpected  danger. 
One  of  the  elder  seamen  gave  an  odd  warning  cry. 
A  monstrous  hammer  seemed  to  strike  the  side,  and  a 
great  wave  swept  over  as  if  to  bury  them  forever  in 
the  sea.  The  water  came  pouring  down  and  flooded 
the  forecastle  knee-deep.  There  was  an  outcry  on 
deck,  and  an  instant  later  three  loud  knocks  on  the 
scuttle. 

"  All  the  larboard  watch  ahoy ! "  bawled  John  Dou- 
gall.  "  Hear  the  news,  can't  ye  ?  All  hands  up ! 
All  hands  on  deck !  " 


XIII 

THE  MIND   OF  THE  DOCTOR 

"  Or  rather  no  arte,  but  a  divine  and  heavenly  instinct,  not  to  be 
gotten  by  labour  and  learning,  but  adorned  by  both." 

THERE  was  one  man,  at  least,  on  board  the  Eanger 
who  was  a  lover  of  peace  :  this  was  the  ship's  surgeon, 
Dr.  Ezra  Green.  With  a  strong  and  hearty  crew, 
and  the  voyage  just  beginning,  his  professional  duties 
had  naturally  been  but  light ;  he  had  no  more  concern 
with  the  working  of  the  ship  than  if  he  were  sitting  in 
his  office  at  home  in  Dover,  and  eagerly  assented 
to  the  captain's  proposal  that  he  should  act  as  the 
Ranger's  purser. 

The  surgeon's  tiny  cabin  was  stuffed  with  books ; 
this  was  a  good  chance  to  go  on  with  his  studies,  and, 
being  a  good  sailor  and  a  cheerful  man,  the  whole 
ship's  company  took  pleasure  in  his  presence.  There 
was  an  amiable  seriousness  about  his  every-day  de 
meanor  that  calmed  even  the  activities  of  the  captain's 
temper ;  he  seemed  to  be  surgeon  and  purser  and 
chaplain  all  in  one,  and  to  be  fit,  as  one  of  his  calling 
should  be,  to  minister  to  both  souls  and  bodies.  It 
was  known  on  board  that  he  was  unusually  liberal  in 
his  views  of  religion,  and  was  provided  with  some 
works  upon  theology  as  well  as  medicine,  and  could 
argue  well  for  the  Arminian  doctrines  against  Dick- 
son,  who,  like  many  men  of  his  type,  was  pretentious 
of  great  religious  zeal,  and  declared  himself  a  Calvin- 


THE  MIND   OF  THE   DOCTOR  111 

ist  of  the  severest  order.  Dickson  was  pleased  to 
consider  the  surgeon  very  lax  and  heretical ;  as  if  that 
would  make  the  world  think  himself  a  good  man,  and 
the  surgeon  a  bad  one,  which  was,  for  evident  proof 
and  reason,  quite  impossible. 

On  this  dark  night,  after  the  terrible  sea  of  the 
afternoon  had  gone  down,  and  poor  Solomon  Hutch- 
ings,  the  first  victim  of  the  voyage,  had  been  made  as 
comfortable  as  possible  under  the  circumstances  of  a 
badly  broken  leg,  the  surgeon  was  sitting  alone,  with  a 
pleasant  sense  of  having  been  useful.  Pie  gave  a  sigh 
at  the  sound  of  Dickson's  voice  outside.  Dickson 
would  be  ready,  as  usual,  for  an  altercation,  and  was 
one  of  those  men  who  always  come  into  a  room  as  if 
they  expect  to  be  kicked  out  of  it. 

Green  was  writing,  —  he  kept  a  careful  journal  of 
the  voyage,  —  and  now  looked  over  his  shoulder  impa 
tiently,  as  if  he  did  not  wish  to  be  interrupted. 

Dickson  wore  a  look  of  patient  persistence. 

The  surgeon  pointed  to  a  seat  with  his  long  quill, 
and  finished  the  writing  of  a  sentence.  He  could  not 
honestly  welcome  a  man  whom  he  liked  so  little,  and 
usually  treated  him  as  if  he  were  a  patient  who  had 
cone  to  seek  advice. 

"  I  only  dropped  in  for  a  chat,"  explained  the 
visitor  reprovingly,  as  his  host  looked  up  again. 
"  Have  you  heard  how  the  captain  blew  at  young 
Wallingford,  just  before  dark  ?  Well,  sir,  they  are 
at  supper  together  now.  Wallingford  must  be  a  tame 
kitten.  I  suppose  he  crept  down  to  the  table  as  if  he 
wanted  to  be  stroked." 

"  He  is  a  good  fellow  and  a  gentleman,"  said  Ezra 
Green  slowly.  "  The  captain  has  hardly  left  the  deck 
since  yesterday  noon,  when  this  gale  began."  The 


112  THE  TORY  LOVER 

surgeon  was  a  young  man,  but  he  had  a  grave,  middle- 
aged  manner  which  Dickson's  sneering  smoothness 
seemed  always  to  insult. 

"  You  always  take  Jones's  part,"  ventured  the 
guest. 

"  We  are  not  living  in  a  tavern  ashore,"  retorted 
the  surgeon.  "  The  officer  you  speak  of  is  our  cap 
tain,  and  commands  an  American  man-of-war.  That 
must  be  understood.  I  cannot  discuss  these  matters 
again." 

"  Some  of  the  best  sailors  vow  they  will  desert  him 
in  the  first  French  port."  said  Dickson. 

"  Then  they  make  themselves  liable  to  be  shot  for 
desertion  whenever  they  are  caught,"  replied  Green 
coolly,  "  and  you  must  take  every  opportunity  to  tell 
them  so.  Those  who  are  here  simply  to  make  a  little 
dirty  money  had  better  have  stayed  ashore  and  traded 
their  country  produce  with  the  British  ships.  They 
say  there  was  a  fine-paying  business  on  foot,  out  at  the 
Isles  of  Shoals." 

This  advice  struck  home,  as  the  speaker  desired. 
Pickson.  swallowed  hard  once  or  twice,  and  then 
looked  meek  and  stubborn ;  he  watched  the  surgeon 
slyly  before  he  spoke  again. 

"  Yes,  it  is  a  very  difficult  crew  to  command,"  he 
agreed ;  "we  have  plenty  of  good  loyal  men  aboard, 
but  they  want  revenge  for  their  country's  wrongs,  as 
you  and  I  do,  I  hope !  " 

"  War  is  one  thing,  and  has  law  and  order  to  dig 
nify  it ;  common  piracy  and  thievery  are  of  another 
breed.  Some  of  our  men  need  education  in  these 
matters,  not  to  say  all  the  discipline  they  can  get. 
The  captain  is  much  wronged  and  insulted  by  the 
ipirit  that  has  begun  to  spread  between  decks.  I 


THE  MIND   OF  THE   DOCTOR  113 

believe  that  he  has  the  right  view  of  his  duty ;  his 
methods  are  sometimes  his  own." 

"  As  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Wallingford,"  blandly  sug 
gested  Dickson,  swift  to  seize  his  opportunity.  "  Even 
you  would  have  thought  the  captain  outrageous  in  his 
choice  of  words." 

"  The  captain  is  a  man  easily  provoked,  and  has 
suffered  certain  provocations  such  as  no  man  of  spirit 
could  brook.  I  believe  he  was  very  wrong  to  vent 
his  spite  on  Mr.  Wallingford,  who  has  proved  as 
respectful  of  others  and  forgetful  of  himself  as  any 
man  on  board.  I  say  this  without  knowing  the  pre 
sent  circumstances,  but  Wallingford  has  made  a 
nobler  sacrifice  than  any  of  us." 

"  He  would  have  been  chased  to  his  own  kind  among 
the  Tories  in  another  week,"  sneered  the  other.  "  You 
know  it  as  well  as  I.  Wallingford  hesitated  just  as 
long  as  he  dared,  and  there  's  the  truth !  He  's  a 
good  mate  to  Ben  Thompson,  —  both  of  'em  courtiers 
of  the  Wentworths  ;  and  both  of  'em  had  to  hurry  at 
the  last,  one  way  or  the  other,  whichever  served." 

"  Plenty  of  our  best  citizens  clung  to  the  hope  that 
delay  would  bring  some  proper  arbitration  and  conces 
sion.  No  good  citizen  went  to  war  lightly  and  with 
out  a  pang.  A  man  who  has  seen  carnage  must 
always  dread  it;  such  glory  as  we  win  must  reckon 
upon  groans  and  weeping  behind  the  loudest  cheers. 
But  war  once  declared,  men  of  clear  conscience  and 
decent  character  may  accept  their  lot,  and  in  the  end 
serve  their  country  best,"  said  the  doctor. 

"  You  are  sentimental  to-night,"  scoffed  Dickson. 

"I  have  been  thinking  much  of  home,"  said  the 
surgeon,  with  deep  feeling.  "  I  may  never  see  my 
home  again,  nor  may  you.  We  are  near  shore  now  ; 


114  THE  TORY  LOVER 

in  a  few  days  this  ship  may  be  smeared  with  blood, 
and  these  poor  fellows  who  snarl  and  bargain,  and 
discuss  the  captain's  orders  and  the  chance  of  prize 
money,  may  come  under  my  hands,  bleeding  and  torn 
and  suffering  their  last  agony.  We  must  face  these 
things  as  best  we  may  ;  we  do  not  know  what  war 
means  yet;  the  captain  will  spare  none  of  us.  He 
is  like  a  creature  in  a  cage  now,  fretted  by  his  bounds 
and  all  their  petty  conditions ;  but  when  the  moment 
of  freedom  comes  he  will  seek  action.  He  is  fit  by 
nature  to  leap  to  the  greatest  opportunities,  and  to  do 
what  the  best  of  us  could  never  dream  of.  No,  not 
you,  sir,  nor  Simpson  either,  though  he  aims  to  sup 
plant  him !  "  grumbled  the  surgeon,  under  his  voice. 

"  Perhaps  his  gift  is  too  great  for  so  small  a  com 
mand  as  this,"  Dickson  returned,  with  an  evil  smile. 
"  It  is  understood  that  he  must  be  transferred  to  a 
more  sufficient  frigate,  if  France  sees  fit,"  he  added, 
in  a  pious  tone.  "  I  shall  strive  to  do  my  own  duty  in 
either  case."  At  which  Dr.  Green  looked  up  and 
smiled. 

Dickson  laughed  back ;  he  was  quick  to  feel  the 
change  of  mood  in  his  companion.  For  a  moment 
they  were  like  two  schoolboys,  but  there  was  a  flicker 
of  malice  in  Dickson's  eyes ;  no  one  likes  being  laughed 
at. 

"Shall  we  take  a  hand  at  cards,  sir?"  he  asked 
hastily.  "  All  these  great  things  will  soon  be  settled 
when  we  get  to  France." 

The  surgeon  did  not  offer  to  get  the  cards,  which 
lay  on  the  nearest  shelf.  He  was  clasping  his  hands 
across  his  broad  breast,  and  leaning  back  in  a  com 
fortable,  tolerant  sort  of  way  in  his  corner  seat.  They 
both  knew  perfectly  well  that  they  were  in  for  a  long 


THE  MIND   OF  THE   DOCTOR  115 

evening  together,  and  might  as  well  make  the  best  of 
it.  It  was  too  much  trouble  to  fight  with  a  cur. 
Somehow,  the  current  of  general  interest  did  not  set 
as  usual  toward  theological  opinions. 

"  I  was  called  to  a  patient  down  on  Sligo  Point, 
beyond  the  Gulf  Koad,  just  before  we  sailed,"  said 
Green  presently,  in  a  more  friendly  tone.  "  'T  was 
an  old  woman  of  unsteady  brain,  but  of  no  common 
place  fancy,  who  was  under  one  of  her  wildest  spells, 
and  had  mounted  the  house  roof  to  sell  all  her  neigh 
bors  at  auction.  She  was  amusing  enough,  —  't  is  a 
pretty  wit  when  she  is  sane ;  but  I  heard  roars  of 
laughter  as  I  rode  up  the  lane,  and  saw  a  flock  of 
listeners  at  the  orchard  edge.  She  had  knocked  off 
the  minister  and  both  deacons,  the  lot  for  ninepence, 
and  was  running  her  lame  neighbor  Paul  to  seventy 
thousand  pounds." 

"  I  heard  that  they  called  the  minister  to  pray  with 
her  when  her  fit  was  coming  on,  and  she  chased  him 
down  the  lane,  and  would  have  driven  him  into  the 
river,  if  there  had  not  been  some  men  at  fall  plough 
ing  in  a  field  near  by.  She  was  a  fixed  Calvinist  in 
her  prime,  and  always  thought  him  lax,"  said  Dickson, 
with  relish,  continuing  the  tale.  "  They  had  told  the 
good  man  to  come  dressed  in  his  gown  and  bands, 
thinking  it  would  impress  her  mind." 

"  Which  it  certainly  seemed  to  do,"  agreed  the  doc 
tor.  "  At  any  rate,  she  knocked  him  down  for  nine- 
pence.  'T  was  a  good  sample  of  the  valuation  most  of 
us  put  upon  our  neighbors.  She  likes  to  hear  her 
neighbor  Paul  play  the  fiddle ;  sometimes  he  can 
make  her  forget  all  her  poor  distresses,  and  fall  asleep 
like  a  baby.  The  minister  had  somehow  vexed  her. 
Our  standards  are  just  as  personal  here  aboard  ship. 


116  THE  TORY  LOVER 

The  Great  Day  will  sum  up  men  at  their  true  value, 
—  we  shall  never  do  it  before ;  't  would  ask  too  much 
of  poor  human  nature." 

Dickson  drummed  on  the  bulkhead  before  he  spoke. 
"  Some  men  are  taken  at  less  than  their  true  value." 

"And  some  at  more,  especially  by  themselves. 
Don't  let  things  go  too  far  with  Simpson.  He  's  a 
good  man,  but  can  easily  be  led  into  making  trouble," 
said  the  surgeon ;  and  Dickson  half  rose,  and  then  sat 
down  again,  with  his  face  showing  an  angry  red. 

"  We  must  be  patient,"  added  the  surgeon  a  mo 
ment  later,  without  having  looked  again  at  his  com 
panion.  "  'T  is  just  like  a  cage  of  beasts  here  :  fierce 
and  harmless  are  shut  in  together.  Tame  creatures 
are  sometimes  forced  to  show  their  teeth.  We  must 
not  fret  about  petty  things,  either  ;  't  is  a  great  errand 
we  have  come  out  upon,  and  the  honest  doing  of  it  is 
all  the  business  we  have  in  common." 

"  True,  sir,"  said  Dickson,  with  a  touch  of  insolent 
flattery.  "  Shall  we  take  a  hand  at  cards  ?  " 


XIV 

TO   ADD   MOKE   GRIEF 

"  O  garlands,  hanging  by  these  doors,  now  stay, 
Nor  from  your  leaves  too  quickly  shake  away 
My  dew  of  tears.     (How  many  such,  ah  me ! 
A  lover's  eyes  must  shed  !  )  " 

CAPTAIN  PAUL  JONES  was  waiting,  a  most  affable 
and  dignified  host,  to  greet  his  guest.  Wallingford 
stood  before  him,  with  a  faint  flush  of  anger  brighten 
ing  his  cheeks. 

"  You  commanded  me,  sir,"  he  said  shortly. 

"  Oh,  come,  Wallingford  !  "  exclaimed  the  captain, 
never  so  friendly  before,  and  keeping  that  pleasant 
voice  and  manner  which  at  once  claimed  comradeship 
from  men  and  admiring  affection  from  women.  "  I  '11 
drop  the  commander  when  we  're  by  ourselves,  if 
you  '11  consent,  and  we  '11  say  what  we  like.  I  wanted 
you  to  sup  with  me.  I  've  got  a  bottle  of  good  wine 
for  us,  —  some  of  Hamilton's  Madeira." 

Wallingford  hesitated  ;  after  all,  what  did  it  matter  ? 
The  captain  was  the  captain ;  there  was  a  vigorous 
sort  of  refreshment  in  this  life  on  shipboard ;  a  man 
could  not  judge  his  associates  by  the  one  final  test  of 
their  being  gentlemen,  but  only  expect  of  each  that  he 
should  follow  after  his  kind.  Outside  society  there 
lies  humanity. 

The  lieutenant  seated  himself  under  the  swinging 
lamp,  and  took  the  glass  that  was  held  out  to  him. 


118  THE  TORY  LOVER 

They  drank  together  to  the  flag  they  carried,  and  to 
their  lucky  landfall  on  the  morrow. 

"  To  France !  "  said  the  captain  gallantly.  It  was 
plainly  expected  that  all  personal  misunderstandings 
should  be  drowned  in  the  good  wine.  Wallingford 
knew  the  flavor  well  enough,  and  even  from  which 
cask  in  Hamilton's  cellar  it  had  been  drawn.  Then 
the  captain  was  quickly  on  his  feet  again,  and  took 
the  four  steps  to  and  fro  which  were  all  his  cabin  per 
mitted.  He  did  not  even  appear  to  be  impatient, 
though  supper  was  slow  in  coming.  His  hands  were 
clasped  behind  him,  and  he  smiled  once  or  twice,  but 
did  not  speak,  and  seemed  to  be  lost  in  thought.  As 
for  the  guest,  his  thoughts  were  with  Mary  Hamilton. 
The  flavor  of  wine,  like  the  fragrance  of  a  flower,  can 
be  a  quick  spur  to  memory.  He  saw  her  bright  face 
and  sweet,  expectant  eyes,  as  if  they  were  sitting  to 
gether  at  Hamilton's  own  table. 

The  process  of  this  evening  meal  at  sea  was  not  a 
long  one  ;  and  when  the  two  men  had  dispatched  their 
food  with  businesslike  haste,  the  steward  was  dis 
missed,  and  they  were  left  alone  with  Hamilton's 
Madeira  at  better  than  half  tide  in  the  bottle  between 
them,  a  plate  of  biscuit  and  some  raisins,  and  the 
usual  pack  of  cards.  Paul  Jones  covered  these  with 
a  forbidding  hand,  and  presently  pushed  them  aside 
altogether,  and  added  a  handful  of  pipes  to  the  pro 
visioning  of  the  plain  dessert.  He  wished  to  speak  of 
serious  things,  and  could  not  make  too  long  an  even 
ing  away  from  his  papers.  It  seemed  incredible  that 
the  voyage  was  so  near  its  end.  He  refilled  his  own 
glass  and  Mr.  Wallingford' s. 

"  I  foresee  much  annoyance  now,  on  board  this  ship. 
I  must  at  once  post  to  Paris,  and  here  they  will  have 


TO  ADD  MORE  GRIEF  119 

time  to  finish  their  machinations  at  their  leisure,  with 
out  me  to  drive  them  up  to  duty.  Have  you  long 
known  this  man  Dickson  ?  "  asked  the  captain,  lower 
ing  his  voice  and  fixing  his  eyes  upon  the  lieutenant. 

"  I  have  always  known  him.  He  was  once  in  our 
own  employ  and  much  trusted,  but  was  afterward  dis 
missed,  and  for  the  worst  of  reasons,"  said  Walling- 
ford. 

"  What  reputation  has  he  borne  in  the  neighbor 
hood?" 

"  He  is  called  a  sharp  man  of  business,  quick  to  see 
his  own  advantage,  and  generous  in  buying  the  good 
will  of  those  who  can  serve  his  purpose.  He  is  a 
stirring,  money-getting  fellow,  very  closerfisted ;  but 
he  has  been  unlucky  in  his  larger  ventures,  as  if  for 
tune  did  not  much  incline  to  favor  him." 

"  I  despised  the  fellow  from  the  first,"  said  the  cap 
tain,  with  engaging  frankness,  "but  I  have  no  fear 
that  I  cannot  master  him  ;  he  is  much  cleverer  than 
many  a  better  man,  yet  't  is  not  well  to  forget  that  a 
cripple  in  the  right  road  can  beat  a  racer  in  the  wrong. 
He  has  been  sure  these  last  days  that  he  possesses  my 
confidence,  but  I  have  made  him  serve  some  good 
turns.  Now  he  is  making  trouble  as  fast  as  he  can 
between  Simpson  and  me.  Simpson  knows  little  of 
human  nature  ;  he  would  as  soon  have  Dickson's  praise 
as  yours  or  mine.  He  cannot  wait  to  supplant  me  in 
this  command,  and  he  frets  to  gather  prizes  off  these 
rich  seas.  There  's  no  harm  in  prizes ;  but  I  some 
times  think  that  no  soul  on  board  has  any  real  com 
prehension  of  the  larger  duties  of  our  voyage,  and  the 
ends  it  may  serve  in  furthering  an  alliance  with 
France.  They  all  begin,  well  instructed  by  Dickson, 
to  look  upon  me  as  hardly  more  than  a  passenger. 


120  THE  TORY  LOVER 

'T  is  true  that  I  look  for  a  French  frigate  very  soon, 
as  Dickson  tells  them  ;  but  he  adds  that  it  is  to  Simp 
son  they  must  look  for  success,  while  if  he  could  rid 
himself  of  Simpson  he  would  do  it.  I  must  have  a 
fleet  if  I  can,  and  as  soon  as  I  can,  and  be  master  of 
it,  too.  I  have  my  plans  all  well  laid !  Dickson  is 
full  of  plots  of  his  own,  but  to  tell  such  a  man  the 
truth  about  himself  is  to  give  him  the  blackest  of 
insults." 

Wallingford  made  a  gesture  of  impatience.  The 
captain's  face  relaxed,  and  he  laughed  as  he  leaned 
across  the  table. 

"  Dickson  took  his  commission  for  the  sake  of  prize 
money,"  he  said.  "  A  pirate,  a  pirate,  that 's  what  he 
is,  but  oh,  how  pious  in  his  speech ! 

"  '  Unpitying  hears  the  captive's  moans 
Or  e'en  a  dying  brother's  groans !  ' 

"  There  's  a  hymn  for  him  !  "  exclaimed  the  captain, 
with  bitter  emphasis.  "  No,  he  has  no  gleam  of  true 
patriotism  in  his  cold  heart ;  he  is  full  of  deliberate 
insincerities ;  '  a  mitten  for  any  hand,'  as  they  say  in 
Portsmouth.  I  believe  he  would  risk  a  mutiny,  if  he 
had  time  enough ;  and  having  gained  his  own  ends  of 
putting  better  men  to  shame,  he  would  pose  as  the 
queller  of  it.  A  low-lived,  self-seeking  man  ;  you  can 
see  it  for  yourself,  Mr.  Wallingford." 

"  True,  sir.  I  did  not  need  to  come  to  sea  to  learn 
that  man's  character,"  and  Wallingford  finished  his 
glass  and  set  it  down,  but  still  held  it  with  one  hand 
stretched  out  upon  the  table,  while  he  leaned  back 
comfortably  against  the  bulkhead. 

"  If  our  enterprise  has  any  value  in  the  sight  of  the 
nations,  or  any  true  power  against  our  oppressors,  it 
lies  in  our  noble  cause  and  in  our  own  unselfishness,'* 


TO  ADD  MORE  GRIEF  121 

said  Paul  Jones,  his  eyes  kindling.  "  This  man  and 
his  fellows  would  have  us  sneak  about  the  shores  of 
Great  Britain,  picking  up  an  old  man  and  a  lad  and 
a  squalling  woman  from  some  coastwise  trading  smack 
and  plundering  what  weak  craft  we  can  find  to  stuff 
our  pockets  with  ha'pennies.  We  have  a  small  ship, 
it  is  true ;  but  it  is  war  we  follow,  not  thievery.  I 
hear  there  's  grumbling  between  decks  about  ourselves 
getting  nothing  by  this  voyage.  'T  is  our  country  we 
have  put  to  sea  for,  not  ourselves.  No  man  has  it  in 
his  heart  more  than  I  to  confront  the  enemy:  but 
Dickson  would  like  to  creep  along  the  coast  forever 
after  small  game,  and  count  up  by  night  what  he  has 
taken  by  day,  like  a  petty  shopkeeper.  I  look  for 
larger  things,  or  we  might  have  stopped  at  home.  I 
have  my  plans,  sir ;  the  Marine  Committee  have 
promised  me  my  proper  ship.  One  thing  that  I  can 
not  brook  is  a  man's  perfidy.  I  have  good  men 
aboard,  but  Dickson  is  not  among  them.  I  feel 
sometimes  as  if  I  trod  on  caltrops.  I  am  outdone, 
Mr.  Wallingford.  I  have  hardly  slept  these  three 
nights.  You  have  my  apology,  sir." 

The  lieutenant  bowed  with  respectful  courtesy,  but 
said  nothing.  The  captain  opened  his  eyes  a  little 
wider,  and  looked  amused  ;  then  he  quickly  grew  grave 
and  observed  his  guest  with  fresh  attention.  There 
was  a  fine  unassailable  dignity  in  Wallingford's  bear^ 
ing  at  this  moment. 

"  Since  you  are  aware  that  there  is  some  disaffec 
tion,  sir,"  he  said  deliberately,  "  I  can  only  answer 
that  it  seems  to  me  there  is  but  one  course  to  follow, 
and  you  must  not  overrate  the  opposition.  They  will 
always  sit  in  judgment  upon  your  orders,  and  discuss 
your  measures,  and  express  their  minds  freely.  I 


122  THE  TORY  LOVER 

have  long  since  seen  that  our  natural  independence  of 
spirit  in  New  England  makes  individual  opinion  ap 
pear  of  too  great  consequence,  —  't  is  the  way  they 
fall  upon  the  parson's  sermon  ashore,  every  Monday 
morning.  As  for  Lieutenant  Simpson,  I  think  him  a 
very  honest-hearted  man,  though  capable  of  being  in 
fluenced.  He  has  the  reputation  in  Portsmouth  of  an 
excellent  seaman,  but  high-tempered.  Among  the 
men  here,  he  has  the  advantage  of  great  powers  of 
self-command." 

Wallingford  paused,  as  if  to  make  his  words  more 
emphatic,  and  then  repeated  them  :  "  He  has  the  mas 
tery  of  his  temper,  sir,  and  the  men  fear  him ;  he  can 
stop  to  think  even  when  he  is  angry.  His  gifts  are 
perhaps  not  great,  but  they  have  that  real  advantage." 

Paul  Jones  blazed  with  sudden  fury.  He  sprang 
to  his  feet,  and  stood  light  and  steady  there  beyond 
the  table,  in  spite  of  the  swaying  ship. 

"  Forgive  me,  sir,"  said  Roger  Wallingford,  "  but 
you  bade  us  speak  together  like  friends  to-night.  I 
think  you  a  far  greater  man  and  master  than  when 
we  left  Portsmouth  ;  I  am  not  so  small-minded  as  to 
forget  to  honor  my  superiors.  I  see  plainly  that  you 
are  too  much  vexed  with  these  men,  —  I  respect  and 
admire  you  enough  to  say  so;  you  must  not  expect 
from  them  what  you  demand  from  yourself.  In  the 
worst  weather  you  could  not  have  had  a  better  crew : 
you  have  confessed  to  that.  I  believe  you  must  have 
patience  with  the  small  affairs  which  have  so  deeply 
vexed  you.  The  men  are  right  at  heart ;  you  ought 
to  be  able  to  hold  them  better  than  Dickson  ! " 

The  captain's  rage  had  burnt  out  like  a  straw  fire, 
and  he  was  himself  again. 

"  Speak  on,  Mr.  Lieutenant ;  you  mean  kindly,"  he 


TO   ADD   MORE  GRIEF  123 

said,  arid  took  his  seat.  The  sweat  stood  on  his  fore 
head,  and  his  hands  twitched. 

"  I  think  we  have  it  in  our  power  to  intimidate  the 
enemy,  poorly  fitted  out  as  we  are,"  he  said,  with  calm 
ness,  "  but  we  must  act  like  one  man.  At  least  we  all 
pity  our  countrymen,  who  are  starving  in  filthy  prisons. 
Since  Parliament,  now  two  years  agone,  authorized  the 
King  to  treat  all  Americans  taken  under  arms  at  sea 
as  pirates  and  felons,  they  have  been  stuffing  their 
dungeons  with  the  innocent  and  guilty  together.  What 
man  seeing  his  enemy  approach  does  not  arm  himself 
in  defense  ?  We  have  made  no  retaliation  such  as  I 
shall  make  now.  I  have  my  plans,  but  I  cannot  risk 
losing  a  man  here  and  a  man  there,  out  of  a  crew  like 
this,  before  I  adventure  a  hearty  blow  ;  this  cuts  me 
off  from  prize-hunting.  And  the  commander  of  an 
American  man-of-war  cannot  hobnob  with  his  sailors, 
like  the  leader  of  a  gang  of  pirates.  I  am  no  Captain 
Kidd,  nor  am  I  another  Blackboard.  I  can  easily  be 
blocked  in  carrying  out  my  purposes.  Dickson  will 
not  consent  to  serve  his  country  unless  he  can  fill  his 
pockets.  Simpson  cannot  see  the  justice  of  obeying 
my  orders,  and  lets  his  inferiors  see  that  he  resents 
them.  I  wish  Dickson  were  in  the  blackest  pit  of 
Plymouth  jail.  If  I  were  the  pirate  he  would  like  to 
have  me,  I  'd  yard-arm  him  quick  enough  !  " 

"  We  may  be  overheard,  sir,"  pleaded  Wallingford. 
"  We  each  have  our  ambitions,"  he  continued  bravely, 
while  his  father's  noble  looks  came  to  his  face. 
"  Mine  are  certainly  not  Dickson's,  nor  do  I  look 
forward  to  a  life  at  sea,  like  yourself.  This  may  be 
the  last  time  we  can  speak  together  on  the  terms  you 
commanded  that  we  should  speak  to-night.  I  look  for 
no  promotion ;  I  am  humble  enough  about  my  fitness 


124  THE  TORY  LOVER 

to  serve ;  the  navy  is  but  an  accident,  as  you  know, 
in  my  career.  I  beg  you  to  command  my  hearty 
service,  such  as  it  is  ;  you  have  a  right  to  it,  and 
you  shall  not  find  me  wanting.  I  know  that  you  have 
been  very  hard  placed." 

And  now  the  captain  bowed  courteously  in  his  turn, 
and  received  the  pledge  with  gratitude,  but  he  kept 
his  eyes  upon  the  young  man  with  growing  curiosity. 
Wallingford  had  turned  pale,  and  spoke  with  much 
effort. 

"  My  heart  leaps  within  me  when  I  think  that  I 
shall  soon  stand  upon  the  shore  of  France,"  PaulJones 
went  on,  for  his  guest  kept  silence.  "  Within  a  few 
days  I  shall  see  the  Duke  of  Chartres,  if  he  be  within 
reach.  No  man  ever  took  such  hold  of  my  affections 
at  first  acquaintance  as  that  French  prince.  We 
knew  each  other  first  at  Hampton  Roads,  where  he 
was  with  Kersaint,  the  French  commodore.  My  only 
thought  in  boarding  him  was  to  serve  our  own  young 
navy  and  get  information  for  our  ship-building,  but  I 
was  rewarded  by  a  noble  gift  of  friendship.  'T  is  now 
two  years  since  we  have  met,  but  I  cannot  believe  that 
I  shall  find  him  changed  ;  I  can  feel  my  hand  in  his 
already.  He  will  give  our  enterprise  what  help  he 
can.  He  met  me  on  his  deck  that  day  like  a  brother ; 
we  were  friends  from  the  first.  I  told  him  my  errand, 
and  he  showed  me  everything  about  his  new  ship,  and 
even  had  copies  made  for  me  of  her  plans.  'T  was 
before  France  and  England  had  come  to  open  trouble, 
and  he  was  dealing  with  a  rebel,  but  he  helped  me  all 
he  could.  I  had  loaded  my  sloop  with  the  best  I  had 
on  my  plantation ;  't  was  May,  and  the  gardens  very 
forward.  I  knew  their  vessels  had  been  long  at  sea, 
and  could  ship  a  whole  salad  garden.  I  would  not  go 


TO   ADD  MORE  GRIEF  125 

to  ask  for  favors  then  without  trying  to  make  some 
pleasure  in  return,  but  we  were  friends  from  the  first. 
He  is  a  very  noble  gentleman ;  you  shall  see  him  soon, 
I  hope,  and  judge  for  yourself." 

Wallingford  listened,  but  the  captain  was  still  puz 
zled  by  a  look  on  the  young  man's  face. 

"  I  must  make  my  confession,"  said  the  lieutenant. 
"  When  I  hear  you  speak  of  such  a  friend,  I  know 
that  I  have  done  wrong  in  keeping  silence,  sir.  I  put 
myself  into  your  hands.  When  I  took  my  commission, 
I  openly  took  the  side  of  our  colonies  against  the 
Crown.  I  am  at  heart  among  the  Neutrals  :  't  is  ever 
an  ignominious  part  to  take.  I  never  could  bring  my 
self  to  take  the  King's  side  against  the  country  that 
bore  me.  I  should  rather  curse  those  who  insisted,  on 
either  side,  upon  this  unnatural  and  unnecessary  war. 
Now  I  am  here ;  I  put  myself  very  low ;  I  am  at  your 
mercy,  Captain  Paul  Jones.  I  cannot  explain  to  you 
my  immediate  reasons,  but  I  have  gone  against  my  own 
principles  for  the  sake  of  one  I  love  and  honor.  You 
may  put  irons  on  me,  or  set  me  ashore  without  mercy, 
or  believe  that  I  still  mean  to  keep  the  oath  I  took. 
Since  I  came  on  board  this  ship  I  have  begun  to  see 
that  the  colonies  are  in  the  right ;  my  heart  is  with 
my  oath  as  it  was  not  in  the  beginning." 

"  By  Heaven ! "  exclaimed  the  captain,  staring. 
"Wallingford,  do  you  mean  this?"  The  captain 
sprang  to  his  feet  again.  "  By  Heaven  I  I  could  not 
have  believed  this  from  another,  but  I  know  you  can 
speak  the  truth !  Give  me  your  hand,  sir  !  Give  me 
your  hand,  I  say,  Wallingford  !  I  have  known  men 
enough  who  would  fight  for  their  principles,  and  fight 
well,  but  you  are  the  first  I  ever  saw  who  would  fight 
against  them  for  love  and  honor's  sake.  This  is  what 


126  THE  TORY  LOVER 

I  shall  do,"  he  went  on  rapidly.  "  I  shall  not  iron 
you  or  set  you  ashore  ;  I  shall  hold  you  to  your  oath. 
I  have  no  fear  that  you  will  ever  fail  to  carry  out  my 
orders  as  an  officer  of  this  ship.  Now  we  have  indeed 
spoken  together  like  friends  !  " 

They  seated  themselves  once  more,  face  to  face. 

There  was  a  heavy  trampling  overhead.  Walling- 
ford  had  a  sudden  fear  lest  this  best  hour  of  the  voy 
age  might  be  at  an  end,  and  some  unexpected  event 
summon  them  to  the  deck,  but  it  was  only  some  usual 
duty  of  the  sailors.  His  heart  was  full  of  admiration  for 
the  great  traits  of  the  captain.  He  had  come  to  know 
Paul  Jones  at  last ;  their  former  disastrous  attempts 
at  fellowship  were  all  forgotten.  A  man  might  well 
keep  difficult  promises  to  such  a  chief ;  the  responsibil 
ities  of  his  life  were  in  a  strong  and  by  no  means  un 
just  hand.  The  confession  was  made  ;  the  confessor 
had  proved  to  be  a  man  of  noble  charity. 

There  was  a  strange  look  of  gentleness  and  com 
passion  on  the  captain's  face ;  his  thought  was  always 
leading  him  away  from  the  past  moment,  the  narrow 
lodging  and  poor  comfort  of  the  ship. 

"  We  have  great  dangers  before  us,"  he  reflected, 
"  and  only  our  poor  human  nature  to  count  upon ; 
't  is  the  shame  and  failures  of  past  years  that  make  us 
wince  at  such  a  time  as  this.  We  can  but  offer  our 
selves  upon  the  altar  of  duty,  and  hope  to  be  accepted. 
I  have  kept  a  promise,  too,  since  I  came  to  sea.  I 
was  mighty  near  to  breaking  it  this  very  day,"  he 
added  simply. 

The  lieutenant  had  but  a  dim  sense  of  these  words ; 
something  urged  him  to  make  a  still  greater  confi 
dence.  He  was  ready  to  speak  with  utter  frankness 
now,  to  such  a  listener,  of  the  reasons  why  he  had 


TO  ADD  MORE  GRIEF  127 

come  to  sea,  of  the  one  lie  loved  best,  and  of  all  his 
manly  hopes ;  to  tell  the  captain  everything. 

At  this  moment,  the  captain  himself,  deeply  moved 
by  his  own  thoughts,  reached  a  cordial  hand  across 
the  table.  Wallingford  was  quick  to  grasp  it  and  to 
pledge  his  friendship  as  he  never  had  done  before. 

Suddenly  he  drew  back,  startled,  and  caught  his 
hand  away.  There  was  a  ring  shining  on  Paul  Jones's 
hand,  and  the  ring  was  Mary  Hamilton's. 


XV 

THE   COAST   OF  FRANCE 

"  They  g-oe  very  neer  to  ungratefulnesse." 

NEXT  day,  in  the  Channel,  every  heart  was  rejoiced 
by  the  easy  taking  of  two  prizes,  rich  fruit-laden 
vessels  from  Madeira  and  Malaga.  With  these  in 
either  hand  the  Ranger  came  in  sight  of  land,  after  a 
quick  passage  and  little  in  debt  to  time,  when  the 
rough  seas  and  the  many  difficulties  of  handling  a  new 
ship  were  fairly  considered. 

The  coast  lay  like  a  low  and  heavy  cloud  to  the  east 
and  north  ;  there  were  plenty  of  small  craft  to  be  seen, 
and  the  Ranger  ran  within  short  distance  of  a  three- 
decker  frigate  that  looked  like  an  Englishman.  She 
was  standing  by  to  go  about,  and  looked  majestic,  and 
a  worthy  defender  of  the  British  Isles.  Every  man 
on  board  was  in  a  fury  to  fight  and  sink  this  enemy ; 
but  she  was  far  too  powerful,  and  much  nobler  in  size 
than  the  Ranger.  They  crowded  to  the  rail.  There 
was  plenty  of  grumbling  alow  and  aloft  lest  Captain 
Paul  Jones  should  not  dare  to  try  his  chances.  A 
moment  later  he  was  himself  in  a  passion  because  the 
great  Invincible  had  passed  easily  out  of  reach,  as  if 
with  insolent  unconsciousness  of  having  been  in  any 
danger. 

Dickson,  who  stood  on  deck,  maintained  his  usual 
expression  of  aggravating  amiability,  and  only  ven- 


THE  COAST  OF  FRANCE  129 

tured  to  smile  a  little  more  openly  as  the  captain 
railed  in  greater  desperation.  Dickson  had  a  new 
grievance  to  store  away  in  his  rich  remembrance, 
because  he  had  been  overlooked  in  the  choice  of  prize 
masters  to  bring  the  two  merchantmen  into  port. 

"  Do  not  let  us  stand  in  your  way,  sir,"  he  said 
affably.  "  Some  illustrious  sea  fights  have  been  won 
before  this  by  the  smaller  craft  against  the  greater." 

"  There  was  the  Revenge,  and  the  great  San  Philip 
with  her  Spanish  fleet  behind  her,  in  the  well-known 
fight  at  Flores,"  answered  Paul  Jones,  on  the  instant. 
"  That  story  will  go  down  to  the  end  of  time  ;  but 
you  know  the  little  Revenge  sank  to  the  bottom  of 
the  sea,  with  all  her  men  who  were  left  alive.  Their 
glory  could  not  sink,  but  I  did  not  know  you  ever 
shipped  for  glory's  sake,  Mr.  Dickson."  And  Dick- 
son  turned  a  leaden  color  under  his  sallow  skin,  but 
said  nothing. 

"  At  least,  our  first  duty  now  is  to  be  prudent," 
continued  the  captain.  "  I  must  only  fight  to  win  ; 
my  first  duty  is  to  make  my  way  to  port,  before  we 
venture  upon  too  much  bravery.  There  '11  be  fight 
ing  soon  enough,  and  I  hope  glory  enough  for  all  of 
us  this  day  four  weeks.  I  own  it  grieves  me  to  see 
that  frigate  leave  us.  She 's  almost  hull  down  al 
ready  !  "  he  exclaimed  regretfully,  with  a  seaward 
glance,  as  he  went  to  his  cabin. 

Presently  he  appeared  again,  as  if  he  thought  no 
more  of  the  three-decker,  with  a  favorite  worn  copy 
of  Thomson's  poems  in  hand,  and  began  to  walk  the 
deck  to  and  fro  as  he  read.  On  this  fair  winter  morn 
ing  the  ship  drove  busily  along ;  the  wind  was  out  of 
the  west ;  they  were  running  along  the  Breton  coast, 
and  there  was  more  and  more  pleasure  and  relief  at 


130  THE  TORY  LOVER 

finding  the  hard  voyage  so  near  its  end.  The  men 
were  all  on  deck  or  clustered  thick  in  the  rigging; 
they  made  a  good  strong-looking  ship's  company. 
The  captain  on  his  quarter-deck  was  pacing  off  his 
exercise  with  great  spirit,  and  repeating  some  lines  of 
poetry  aloud :  — 

"  With  such  mad  seas  the  daring  Gama  fought, 
For  many  a  day  and  many  a  dreadful  night ; 
Incessant  lab 'ring  round  the  stormy  Cape 
By  bold  ambition  led  "  — 

"  The  wide  enlivening  air  is  full  of  fate." 

Then  he  paused  a  moment,  still  waving  the  book  at 
arm's  length,  as  if  he  were  following  the  metre  silently 
in  his  own  mind. 

"  On  Sarum's  plain  I  met  a  wandering  fair, 
The  look  of  Sorrow,  lovely  still  she  bore  ' '  — 

"  He 's  gettin'  ready  to  meet  the  ladies ! "  said 
Cooper,  who  was  within  listening  distance,  polishing  a 
piece  of  brass  on  one  of  the  guns.  "  I  can't  say  as 
we  've  had  much  po'try  at  sea  this  v'y'ge,  sir,"  he  con 
tinued  to  Lieutenant  Wallingford,  who  crossed  the 
deck  toward  him,  as  the  captain  disappeared  above  on 
his  forward  stretch.  Cooper  and  Wallingford  were 
old  friends  ashore,  with  many  memories  in  common. 

The  lieutenant  was  pale  and  severe;  the  ready 
smile  that  made  him  seem  more  boyish  than  his  years 
was  strangely  absent ;  he  had  suddenly  taken  on  the 
looks  of  a  much-displeased  man. 

"  Ain't  you  feelin'  well,  sir  ?  "  asked  Cooper,  with 
solicitude.  "  Things  is  all  doin'  well,  though  there 's 
those  aboard  that  won't  have  us  think  so,  if  they  can 
help  it.  When  I  was  on  watch,  I  see  you  writin'  very 
late  these  nights  past.  You  will  excuse  my  boldness, 
but  we  all  want  the  little  sleep  we  get ;  't  is  a  strain 
on  a  man  unused  to  life  at  sea." 


THE   COAST  OF  FRANCE  131 

"  I  shall  write  no  more  this  voyage,"  said  Walling- 
ford,  touched  by  the  kindness  of  old  Cooper's  feeling, 
but  impatient  at  the  boyish  relation  with  an  older 
man,  and  dreading  a  word  about  home  affairs.  He 
was  an  officer  now,  and  must  resent  such  things. 
Then  the  color  rushed  to  his  face ;  he  was  afraid  that 
tears  would  shame  him.  With  a  sudden  impulse  he 
drew  from  his  pocket  a  package  of  letters,  tied  to 
gether  ready  for  sending  home,  and  flung  them  over 
board  with  an  angry  toss.  It  was  as  if  his  heart  went 
after  them.  It  was  a  poor  return  for  Cooper's  inno 
cent  kindness ;  the  good  man  had  known  him  since  he 
had  been  in  the  world.  Old  Susan,  his  elder  sister, 
was  chief  among  the  household  at  home.  This  was  a 
most  distressing  moment,  and  the  lieutenant  turned 
aside,  and  leaned  his  elbow  on  the  gun,  bending  a 
little  as  if  to  see  under  the  sail  whether  the  three- 
decker  were  still  in  sight. 

The  little  package  of  letters  was  on  its  slow  way 
down  through  the  pale  green  water ;  the  fishes  were 
dodging  as  it  sank  to  the  dim  depths  where  it  must  lie 
and  drown,  and  tiny  shells  would  fasten  upon  the 
slow-wasting  substance  of  its  folds.  The  words  that 
he  had  written  would  but  darken  a  little  salt  water 
with  their  useless  ink ;  he  had  written  them  as  he 
could  never  write  again,  in  those  long  lonely  hours  at 
sea,  under  the  dim  lamp  in  his  close  cabin,  —  those 
hours  made  warm  and  shining  with  the  thought  and 
promise  of  love  that  also  hoped  and  waited.  All  a 
young  man's  dream  was  there ;  there  were  tiny  sketches 
of  the  Eanger's  decks  and  the  men  in  the  rigging  done 
into  the  close  text.  Alas,  there  was  his  mother's 
letter,  too  ;  he  had  written  them  both  the  letters  they 
would  be  looking  and  longing'  for,  and  sent  them  to 


132  THE  TORY  LOVER 

the  bottom  of  the  sea.  If  he  had  them  back,  Mary 
Hamilton's  should  go  to  her,  to  show  her  what  she 
had  done.  And  in  this  unexpected  moment  he  felt 
her  wondering  eyes  upon  him,  and  covered  his  face 
with  his  hands.  It  was  all  he  could  do  to  keep  from 
sobbing  over  the  gun.  He  had  seen  the  ring  ! 

"  'T  is  a  shore  headache  coining  on  with  this  sun- 
blink  over  the  water,"  said  Cooper,  still  watching  him. 
"  I  'd  go  and  lie  in  the  dark  a  bit."  It  was  not  like 
Mr.  Wallingford,  but  there  had  been  plenty  of  drink 
ing  the  night  before,  and  gaming  too,  —  the  boy  might 
have  got  into  trouble. 

"  The  Lusitanian  prince,  who  Heaven-inspired 
To  love  of  useful  Glory  roused  mankind." 

They  both  heard  the  captain  at  his  loud  orations ; 
but  he  stopped  for  a  moment  and  looked  down  at  the 
lieutenant  as  if  about  to  speak,  and  then  turned  on  his 
heel  and  paced  away  again. 

The  shore  seemed  to  move  a  long  step  nearer  with 
every  hour.  The  old  seafarers  among  the  crew  gave 
knowing  glances  at  the  coast,  and  were  full  of  wisest 
information  in  regard  to  the  harbor  of  Nantes,  toward 
which  they  were  making  all  possible  speed.  Dickson, 
who  was  in  command,  came  now  to  reprimand  Cooper 
for  his  idleness,  and  set  him  to  his  duty  sharply,  being 
a  great  lover  of  authority. 

Wallingford  left  his  place  by  the  trunnion,  and  dis 
appeared  below. 

" On  the  sick  list?"  inquired  Dickson  of  the  cap 
tain,  who  reappeared,  and  again  glanced  down ;  but 
the  captain  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  made  no  reply. 
He  was  sincerely  sorry  to  have  somehow  put  a  bar 
between  himself  and  his  young  officer  just  at  this  mo- 


THE   COAST  OF  FRANCE  133 

ment.  Wallingford  was  a  noble-looking  fellow,  and 
as  good  a  gentleman  as  the  Duke  of  Chartres  himself. 
The  sight  of  such  a  second  would  lend  credit  to  their 
enterprise  among  the  Frenchmen.  Simpson  was  bring 
ing  in  one  of  the  prizes ;  and  as  for  Dickson,  he  was  a 
common,  trading  sort  of  sneak. 

The  dispatches  from  Congress  to  announce  the  sur 
render  of  Burgoyne  lay  ready  to  the  captain's  hand : 
for  the  bringing  of  such  welcome  news  to  the  Amer 
ican  commissioners,  and  to  France  herself,  he  should 
certainly  have  a  place  among  good  French  seamen  and 
officers.  He  stamped  his  foot  impatiently ;  the  mo 
ment  he  was  on  shore  he  must  post  to  Paris  to  lay  the 
dispatches  in  Mr.  Franklin's  hand.  They  were  di 
rected  to  Glory  herself  in  sympathetic  ink,  on  the  part 
of  the  captain  of  the  Ranger ;  but  this  could  not  be 
read  by  common  eyes,  above  the  titles  of  the  Phila 
delphia  envoy  at  his  lodgings  in  Passy. 

After  reflecting  upon  these  things,  Paul  Jones,  again 
in  a  tender  mood,  took  a  paper  out  of  his  pocketbook, 
and  reread  a  song  of  Allan  Ramsay's,  — 

"  At  setting-  day  and  rising  moon," 

which  a  young  Virginia  girl  had  copied  for  him  in  a 
neat,  painful  little  hand. 

"  Poor  maid !  "  he  said,  with  gentle  affectionateness, 
as  he  folded  the  paper  again  carefully.  "  Poor  maid ! 
I  shall  not  forget  to  do  her  some  great  kindness,  if  my 
hopes  come  true  and  my  life  continues.  Now  I  must 
send  for  Wallingford  and  speak  with  him." 


XVI 

IT  IS   THE   SOUL  THAT   SEES 
"  When  good  and  faire  in  one  person  meet —  " 

EVEKY-DAY  life  at  Colonel  Hamilton's  house  went 
on  with  as  steady  current  as  the  great  river  that  passed 
its  walls.  The  raising  of  men  and  money  for  a  dis 
tressed  army,  with  what  survived  of  his  duties  toward 
a  great  shipping  business,  kept  Hamilton  himself  cease 
lessly  busy.  Often  there  came  an  anxious  company 
of  citizens  riding  down  the  lane  to  consult  upon  pub 
lic  affairs ;  there  was  an  increasing  number  of  guests 
of  humbler  condition  who  sought  a  rich  man's  house 
to  plead  their  poverty.  The  winter  looked  long  and 
resourceless  to  these  troubled  souls.  There  were  old 
mothers,  who  had  been  left  on  lonely  farms  when  their 
sons  had  gone  to  war.  There  was  a  continued  asking 
of  unanswerable  questions  about  the  soldiers'  return, 
while  younger  women  came,  pale  and  desperate,  with 
little  troops  of  children  pulling  at  their  skirts.  When 
one  appealing  group  left  the  door,  another  might  be 
seen  coming  to  take  its  place.  The  improvident  suf 
fered  first  and  made  loudest  complaint;  later  there 
were  discoveries  of  want  that  had  been  too  uncom 
plainingly  borne.  The  well-to-do  families  of  Berwick 
were  sometimes  brought  to  straits  themselves,  in  their 
effort  to  succor  their  poorer  neighbors. 

Mary  Hamilton  looked  graver  and  older.     All  the 


IT  IS  THE   SOUL  THAT  SEES  135 

bright  elation  of  her  heart  had  gone,  as  if  a  long  arctic 
night  were  setting  in  instead  of  a  plain  New  England 
winter,  with  its  lengthening  days  and  bright  January 
sun  at  no  great  distance.  She  could  not  put  Madam 
Wallingford's  sorrow  out  of  mind ;  she  was  thankful 
to  be  so  busy  in  the  great  house,  like  a  new  Dorcas 
with  her  gifts  of  garments,  but  the  shadow  of  war 
seemed  more  and  more  to  give  these  days  a  deeper 
darkness. 

There  was  no  snow  on  the  ground,  so  late  in  the  sad 
year;  there  was  still  a  touch  of  faded  greenness  on 
the  fields.  One  afternoon  Mary  came  across  the  flag- 
stoned  court  toward  the  stables,  tempted  by  the  milder 
air  to  take  a  holiday,  though  the  vane  still  held  by 
the  northwest.  That  great  wind  was  not  dead,  but 
only  drowsy  in  the  early  afternoon,  and  now  and  then 
a  breath  of  it  swept  down  the  country. 

Old  Peggy  had  followed  her  young  mistress  to  the 
door,  and  still  stood  there  watching  with  affectionate 
eyes. 

"  My  poor  darlin'  !  "  said  the  good  soul  to  herself, 
and  Mary  turned  to  look  back  at  her  with  a  smile. 
She  thought  Peggy  was  at  her  usual  grumbling. 

"  Bless  ye,  we  've  all  got  to  have  patience !  "  said 
the  old  housekeeper,  again  looking  wistfully  at  the 
girl,  whose  tired  face  had  touched  her  very  heart.  As 
if  this  quick  wave  of  unwonted  feeling  were  spread  to 
all  the  air  about,  Mary's  own  eyes  filled  with  tears ; 
she  tried  to  go  on,  and  then  turned  and  ran  back. 
She  put  her  arms  round  Peggy,  there  in  the  doorway. 

"  I  am  only  going  for  a  ride.  Kiss  me,  Peggy,  — 
kiss  me  just  as  you  did  when  I  was  a  little  girl ;  things 
do  worry  me  so.  Oh,  Peggy  dear,  you  don't  know  ;  I 
can't  tell  anybody  !  " 


136  THE  TORY  LOVER 

"  There,  there,  darlin',  somebody  '11  see  you !  Don't 
you  go  to  huggin'  this  dry  old  thrashin'  o'  straw ;  nc, 
don't  you  take  notice  'bout  an  old  withered  corn  shuck 
like  me  !  "  she  protested,  but  her  face  shone  with  ten 
derness.  "  Go  have  your  ride,  an'  I  'm  goin'  to  make  ye 
a  pretty  cake ;  't  will  be  all  nice  and  crusty ;  I  was 
goin'  to  make  you  one,  anyway.  I  tell  ye  things  is  all 
comin*  right  in  the  end.  There,  le'  me  button  your 
little  cape  !  "  And  so  they  parted. 

Peggy  marched  back  into  the  great  kitchen  without 
her  accustomed  looks  of  disapproval  at  the  maids,  and 
dropped  into  the  corner  of  the  settle  next  the  fire. 
She  put  out  her  lame  foot  in  its  shuffling  shoe,  and 
looked  at  it  as  if  there  were  no  other  object  of  com 
miseration  in  the  world. 

"  'T  is  a  shame  to  be  wearin'  out,  so  fine  made  as  I 
was.  The  Lord  give  me  a  good  smart  body,  but  't  is 
beginnin'  to  fail  an'  go,"  said  the  old  woman  impa 
tiently.  "  Once 't  would  ha'  took  twice  yisterday's 
work  to  tire  foot  or  back  o'  me." 

"  I  'm  dreadful  spent  myself,  bein'  up  'arly  an'  late. 
We  car'ied  an  upstropelous  sight  o'  dishes  to  an'  fro. 
Don't  see  no  vally  in  feedin'  a  whole  neighborhood, 
when  best  part  on  'em  's  only  too  lazy  to  provide  their- 
selves,"  murmured  one  of  the  younger  handmaidens, 
who  was  languidly  scouring  a  great  pewter  platter. 
Whereat  Peggy  rose  in  her  wrath,  and  set  the  corn- 
plainer  a  stint  of  afternoon  work  sufficient  to  cast  a 
heavy  shadow  over  the  freshest  spirit  of  industry. 

The  mistress  of  these  had  gone  her  way  to  the  long 
stables,  where  a  saddle  was  being  put  on  her  favorite 
horse,  and  stood  in  the  wide  doorway  looking  down 
the  river.  The  tide  was  out ;  the  last  brown  leaves  of 


IT  IS  THE   SOUL  THAT  SEES  137 

the  poplars  were  flying  off  some  close  lower  branches  ; 
•'  there  was  a  touch  of  north  in  the  wind,  but  the  sun 
was  clear  and  bright  for  the.  time  of  year.  Mary  was 
dressed  in  a  warm  habit  of  green  cloth,  with  a  close 
hood  like,  a  child's  tied  under  her  chin  ;  the  long  skirt 
was  full  of  sharp  creases  where  it  had  lain  all  summer 
in  one  of  the  brass-nailed  East  Indian  chests,  and  a 
fragrance  of  camphor  and  Eastern  spices  blew  out  as 
the  heavy  folds  came  to  the  air.  The  old  coachman 
was  busy  with  the  last  girth,  and  soothed  the  young 
horse  as  he  circled  about  the  floor  ;  then,  with  a  last 
fond  stroke  of  a  shining  shoulder,  he  gave  Mary  his 
hand,  and  mounted  her  light  as  a  feather  to  the  saddle. 

"  He 's  terrible  fresh !  "  said  the  old  master  of  horse, 
as  he  drew  the  riding  skirt  in  place  with  a  careful 
touch.  "  Have  a  care,  missy ! " 

Mary  thanked  the  old  man  with  a  gentle  smile,  and 
took  heed  that  the  horse  walked  quietly  away.  When 
she  turned  the  corner  beyond  the  shipyard  she  dropped 
the  curb  rein,  and  the  strong  young  creature  flew 
straight  away  like  an  arrow  from  the  bowstring. 
"  Mind  your  first  wind,  now.  'T  is  a  good  thing  to 
keep ! "  said  the  rider  gayly,  and  leaned  forward,  as 
they  slackened  pace  for  a  moment  on  the  pitch  of  the 
hill,  to  pat  the  horse's  neck  and  toss  a  handful  of  flying 
mane  back  to  its  place.  Until  the  first  pleasure  and 
impulse  of  speed  were  past  there  was  no  time  to  think, 
or  even  to  remember  any  trouble  of  mind.  For  the 
first  time  in  many  days  all  the  motive  power  of  life 
did  not  seem  to  come  from  herself. 

The  fields  of  Berwick  were  already  beginning  to 
wear  that  look  of  hand-shaped  smoothness  which  be 
longs  only  to  long-tilled  lands  in  an  old  country.  The 
first  colonists  and  pilgrims  of  a  hundred  and  fifty  years 


138  THE  TORY  LOVER 

before  might  now  return  to  find  their  dreams  had  borne 
fair  fruit  in  this  likeness  to  England,  that  had  come 
upon  a  landscape  hard  wrung  from  the  wilderness. 
The  long  slopes,  the  gently  rounded  knolls  that  seemed 
to  gather  and  to  hold  the  wintry  sunshine,  the  bushy 
field  corners  and  hedgerows  of  wild  cherry  that  crossed 
the  shoulders  of  the  higher  hills,  would  be  pleasant  to 
those  homesick  English  eyes  in  the  new  country  they 
had  toiled  so  hard  to  win.  The  river  that  made  its 
way  by  shelter  and  covert  of  the  hilly  country  of  field 
and  pasture,  —  the  river  must  for  many  a  year  have 
been  looked  at  wistfully,  because  it  was  the  only  road 
home.  Portsmouth  might  have  been  all  for  this 
world,  while  Plymouth  was  all  for  the  next ;  but  the 
Berwick  farms  were  made  by  home-makers,  neither 
easy  to  transplant  in  the  first  place,  nor  easy  now  to 
uproot  again. 

The  northern  mountains  were  as  blue  as  if  it  were  a 
day  in  spring.  They  looked  as  if  the  warm  mist  of 
April  hung  over  them  ;  as  if  they  were  the  outposts  of 
another  world,  whose  climate  and  cares  were  of  another 
and  gentler  sort,  and  there  was  no  more  fretting  or 
losing,  and  no  more  war  either  by  land  or  sea. 

The  road  was  up  and  down  all  the  way  over  the  hills, 
winding  and  turning  among  the  upper  farms  that  lay 
along  the  riverside  above  the  Salmon  Fall.  Now  and 
then  a  wood  road  or  footpath  shortened  the  way,  dark 
under  the  black  hemlocks,  and  sunshiny  again  past  the 
old  garrison  houses.  Goodwins,  Plaisteds,  Spencers, 
Keays,  and  Wentworths  had  all  sent  their  captives 
through  the  winter  snows  to  Canada,  in  the  old  French 
and  Indian  wars,  and  had  stood  in  their  lot  and  place 
for  many  a  generation  to  suffer  attacks  by  savage 
stealth  at  their  quiet  ploughing,  or  confront  an  army's 
strength  and  fury  of  firebrand  and  organized  assault. 


IT  IS  THE  SOUL  THAT  SEES  139 

There  was  the  ford  to  cross  at  Wooster's  River,  — 
that  noisy  stream  which  can  never  be  silent,  as  if  the 
horror  of  a  great  battle  fought  upon  its  bank  could 
never  be  told.  Here  there  was  always  a  good  modern 
moment  of  excitement :  the  young  horse  must  whirl 
about  and  rear,  and  show  horror  in  his  turn,  as  if  the 
ghosts  of  Hertel  and  his  French  and  Indians  stood 
upon  the  historic  spot  of  their  victory  over  the  poor 
settlers ;  finally  the  Duke  stepped  trembling  into  the 
bright  shallow  water,  and  then  stopped  midway  with 
perfect  composure,  for  a  drink.  Then  they  journeyed 
up  the  steep  battleground,  and  presently  caught  the 
sound  of  roaring  water  at  the  Great  Falls,  heavy  with 
the  latter  rains. 

On  the  crest  of  the  hill  Mary  overtook  a  woman, 
who  was  wearily  carrying  a  child  that  looked  large 
enough  to  walk  alone ;  but  his  cheeks  were  streaked 
with  tears,  and  there  were  no  shoes  on  his  little  feet 
to  tread  the  frozen  road :  only  some  worn  rags  wrapped 
them  clumsily  about.  Mary  held  back  her  horse,  and 
reached  down  for  the  poor  little  thing,  to  take  him  be 
fore  her  on  the  saddle.  The  child  twisted  determinedly 
in  her  arms  to  get  a  look  at  her  face,  and  then  cuddled 
against  his  new  friend  with  great  content.  He  took 
fast  hold  of  the  right  arm  which  held  him,  and  looked 
proudly  down  at  his  mother,  who,  relieved  of  her  extra 
burden,  stepped  briskly  alongside. 

"  Goin'  up  country  to  stay  with  my  folks,"  she 
answered  Mary's  question  of  her  journey.  "  Ain't 
nothin'  else  I  can  do ;  my  man's  with  the  army  at 
Valley  Forge.  '  God  forbid  you  're  any  poorer  than  I 
be  !  '  he  last  sent  me  word.  '  I  've  got  no  pay  and  no 
clothes  to  speak  of,  an'  here's  winter comin'  right  on.' 
This  morniu'  I  looked  round  the  house  an'  see  how  bare 


140  THE  TORY  LOVER 

it  was,  an'  I  locked  the  door  an'  left  it.  The  baby  cried 
good  after  his  cat,  but  I  could  n't  lug  'em  both.  She  's 
a  pretty  creatur'  an'  smart.  I  don't  know  but  she  '11 
make  out ;  there  's  plenty  o'  squirrels.  Cats  is  better 
off  than  women  folks." 

"  I  '11  ride  there  some  day  and  get  her,  if  I  can,  and 
keep  her  until  you  come  home,"  offered  Mary  kindly. 

"  Rich  folks  like  you  can  do  everything,"  said  the 
woman  bitterly,  with  a  look  at  the  beautiful  horse 
which  easily  outstepped  her. 

"  Alas,  we  can't  do  everything  !  "  said  Mary  sadly  ; 
and  there  was  something  in  her  voice  which  touched 
the  complainer's  heart. 

"  I  guess  you  would  if  you  could,"  she  answered 
simply ;  and  then  Mary's  own  heart  was  warmed 
again. 

The  road  still  led  northward  along  the  high  uplands 
above  the  river  ;  all  the  northern  hills  and  the  moun 
tains  of  Ossipee  looked  dark  now,  in  a  solemn  row. 
Mary  turned  her  horse  into  a  narrow  track  off  the 
highroad,  and  leaned  over  to  give  the  comforted  child 
into  his  mother's  arms.  He  slipped  to  ground  of  his 
own  accord,  and  trotted  gayly  along. 

"  Look  at  them  pore  little  feet !  I  wisht  he  had 
some  shoes  ;  he  can't  git  fur  afore  he  '11  be  cryin'  again 
for  me  to  take  an'  car'  him,"  said  the  mother  ruefully. 
"  You  see  them  furthest  peaks  ?  I  've  got  to  git 
there  somehow  'n  other,  with  this  lo'd  on  my  back  an' 
that  pore  baby.  But  I  know  folks  on  the  road ;  pore  's 
they  be,  they  '11  take  me  in,  if  I  can  hold  out  to  do  the 
travelin'.  War  's  hard  on  pore  folks.  We  've  got  a 
good  little  farm,  an'  my  man  didn't  want  to  leave  it. 
He  held  out  'count  o'  me  till  the  bounty  tempted  him. 
We  could  n't  be  no  porer  than  we  be,  now  I  tell  ye !  " 


IT  IS  THE  SOUL  THAT  SEES  141 

"  Go  to  the  store  on  the  hill  and  get  some  shoes  for 
the  baby,"  said  Mary  eagerly,  as  if  to  try  to  cheer  her 
fellow  traveler.  "  Get  some  warm  little  shoes,  and 
tell  the  storekeeper  't  was  I  who  bade  you  come." 
And  so  they  parted ;  but  Mary's  head  drooped  sor 
rowfully  as  she  rode  among  the  gray  birches,  on  her 
shorter  way  to  the  high  slopes  of  Pine  Hill. 

This  piece  of  country  had,  years  before,  furnished 
some  of  the  noblest  masts  that  were  ever  landed  on 
English  shores.  The  ruined  stump  of  that  great  pine 
which  was  the  wonder  of  the  King's  dockyards,  and 
had  loaded  one  of  the  old  mastships  with  its  tons  of 
timber,  could  still  be  seen,  though  shrunken  and  soft 
with  moss.  A  fox,  large  in  his  new  winter  fur,  went 
sneaking  across  the  way  ;  and  the  young  horse  pranced 
gayly  at  the  sight  of  him,  while  Mary  noticed  his  track 
and  the  way  it  led,  for  her  brother's  sake,  and  turned 
aside  across  the  half-wooded  pasture,  until  she  had  a 
sportsman's  satisfaction  in  seeing  the  fox  make  toward 
a  rough,  ledgy  bit  of  ground,  and  warm  thicket  of  un 
derbrush  at  a  spring  head.  This  would  be  good  news 
for  poor  old  Jack,  who  might  take  no  time  for  hunt 
ing,  but  could  dream  of  it  any  night  after  supper,  like 
a  happy  dog  before  his  own  fire. 

On  the  heights  of  the  great  ridge  some  of  the  elder 
generation  of  trees  were  still  standing,  left  because 
they  were  crooked  and  unfit  for  the  mastships'  cargoes. 
They  were  monarch  s  of  the  whole  landscape,  and  waved 
their  long  boughs  in  the  wintry  wind.  Mary  Hamil 
ton  had  known  them  in  her  earliest  childhood,  and 
looked  toward  them  now  with  happy  recognition,  as  if 
within  their  hard  seasoned  shapes  their  hearts  were 
conscious  of  other  existences,  and  affection  like  her 
own.  She  stopped  the  fleet  horse  on  the  top  of  the 


142  THE  TOKY  LOVER 

hill,  and  laid  her  hand  upon  the  bark  of  a  huge  pine ; 
then  she  looked  off  at  the  lower  country.  The  sight 
of  it  was  a  challenge  to  adventure ;  a  great  horizon 
sets  the  boundaries  of  the  inner  life  of  man  wider  to 
match  itself,  and  something  that  had  bound  the  girl's 
heart  too  closely  seemed  to  slip  easily  away. 

She  smiled  and  took  a  long  breath,  and,  turning, 
rode  down  the  rough  pasture  again,  and  along  the 
field  toward  the  river.  Her  heavy  riding  dress  filled 
and  flew  with  the  cold  northwest  wind,  and  a  bright 
color  came  back  to  her  cheeks.  To  stand  on  the 
bleak  height  had  freed  her  spirit,  and  sent  her  back 
to  the  lower  countries  of  life  happier  than  she  came  : 
it  was  said  long  ago  that  one  may  not  sweep  away  a 
fog,  but  one  may  climb  the  hills  of  life  and  look  over 
it  altogether. 

She  leaped  the  horse  lightly  over  some  bars  that 
gave  a  surly  sort  of  entrance  to  a  poor-looking  farm, 
and  rode  toward  the  low  house.  Suddenly  from  be 
hind  a  thorn  bush  there  appeared  a  strange  figure, 
short-skirted  and  bent  almost  double  under  a  stack 
of  dry  beanstalks.  The  bearer  seemed  to  have  up 
rooted  her  clumsy  burden  in  a  fury.  She  tramped 
along,  while  the  horse  took  to  shying  at  the  sight,  and 
had  to  be  pacified  with  much  firmness  and  patience. 

The  bean  stack  at  last  ceased  its  angry  progress, 
and  stood  still. 

"  What 's  all  that  thromping  ?  Keep  away  wit' 
yourself,  then,  whoiver  ye  are  !  I  can  only  see  the 
ground  by  me  two  feet.  Ye  '11  not  ride  over  me ; 
keep  back  now  till  I  'm  gone ! "  screamed  the  shrill 
voice  of  an  old  woman. 

"  It  is  I,  Mary  Hamilton,"  said  the  girl,  laughing. 
"  You  've  frightened  the  Duke  almost  to  death,  Mrs. 


IT  IS  THE  SOUL  THAT  SEES  143 

Sullivan !  I  can  hold  him,  but  do  let  me  get  by  be 
fore  you  bob  at  him  again." 

There  was  a  scornful  laugh  out  of  the  moving 
ambush. 

"  Get  out  of  me  road,  then,  the  two  of  ye ! "  and 
the  bean  stack  moved  angrily  away,  its  transfixing 
pole  piercing  the  air  like  a  disguised  unicorn.  The 
two  small  feet  below  were  well  shod  and  sturdy  like  a 
boy's  ;  the  whole  figure  was  so  short  that  the  dry  frost 
bitten  vines  trailed  on  the  ground  more  and  more, 
until  it  appeared  as  if  the  tangled  mass  were  rolling 
uphill  by  its  own  volition. 

Mary  went  on  with  the  trembling  horse.  A  mo 
ment  later  she  walked  quickly  up  the  slope  to  the  gray 
wooden  house.  There  was  the* handsome  head  of  a 
very  old  man,  reading,  close  to  the  window,  as  she 
passed  ;  but  he  did  not  look  up  until  she  had  shut  the 
door  behind  her  and  stood  within  the  little  room. 

Then  Master  Sullivan,  the  exile,  closed  his  book 
and  sprang  to  his  feet,  a  tall  and  ancient  figure  with 
the  manners  of  a  prince.  He  bent  to  kiss  the  hand  of 
his  guest,  and  looked  at  her  silently  before  he  spoke, 
with  an  unconscious  eagerness  of  affection  equal  to 
her  own. 

"  A  thousand  welcomes !  "  he  said  at  last.  "  I 
should  have  seen  you  coming ;  you  have  had  no  one 
to  serve  you.  I  was  on  the  Sabine  farm  with  Horace  ; 
't  is  far  enough  away  !  "  he  added,  with  a  smile. 

"  I  like  to  fasten  my  horse  myself,"  answered  Mary. 
"  'T  is  best  I  should  ;  he  makes  it  a  point  of  honor  then 
to  stand  still  and  wait  for  me,  and  resents  a  stranger's 
hand,  being  young  and  impatient." 

Mary  looked  bright  and  smiling  ;  she  threw  back 
her  close  green  hood,  and  her  face  bloomed  out  of  it 


144  THE  TORY  LOVER 

like  a  flower,  as  she  stood  before  the  gallant,  frail  old 
man.  "  There  was  a  terrible  little  bean  stack  that 
came  up  the  hill  beside  us,"  she  went  on,  as  if  to 
amuse  him,  "  and  I  heard  a  voice  out  of  it,  and  saw 
two  steady  feet  that  I  knew  to  be  Mrs.  Sullivan's ; 
but  my  black  Duke  was  pleased  to  be  frightened  out 
of  his  wits,  and  so  we  have  all  parted  on  bad  terms, 
this  dark  day." 

"  She  will  shine  upon  you  like  a  May  morning  when 
she  comes  in,  then  !  "  said  Master  Sullivan.  "  She  's 
in  a  huge  toil  the  day,  with  sure  news  of  a  great  storm 
that 's  coming.  '  Stay  a  while,'  I  begged  her,  '  stay 
a  while,  my  dear ;  the  wind  is  in  a  fury,  and  to 
morrow  ' : 

"  An'  to-morrow  indeed  !  "  cried  the  master's  wife, 
bursting  in  at  the  door,  half  a  wild  brownie  and  half 
a  tame  enough  grandmotherly  old  soul.  "  An'  to 
morrow  !  I  've  heard  nothing  but  to-morrow  from  ye 
all  my  life  long,  an'  here  's  the  hand  of  winter  upon 
us  again,  an'  thank  God  all  me  poor  little  crops  is 
under  cover,  an'  no  praise  to  yourself." 

The  old  man  held  out  his  slender  hand  ;  she  did 
not  take  it,  but  her  face  began  to  shine  with  affec 
tion. 

"  Thank  God,  't  is  yourself,  Miss  Mary  Hamilton, 
my  dear  !  "  she  exclaimed,  dropping  a  curtsy.  "  My 
old  gentleman  here  has  been  sorrowing  for  a  sight 
of  your  fair  face  these  many  days.  'T  is  in  Decem 
ber  like  this  we  do  be  sighing  after  the  May.  I  don't 
know,  have  ye  brought  any  news  yet  from  the  ship  ?  " 

"Oh  no,  not  yet,"  said  Mary.  '"No,  there  is  no 
news  yet  from  the  Ranger." 

"  I  have  had  good  dreams  of  her,  then,"  announced 
the  old  creature  with  triumph.  "  Listen :  there  's 


IT  IS  THE   SOUL  THAT  SEES  145 

quarrels  amongst  'em,  but  they  '11  come  safe  to  shore, 
with  gold  in  everybody's  two  hands." 

She  crossed  the  room,  and  drew  her  lesser  wheel 
close  to  her  knee  and  began  to  spin  busily. 


XVII 

THE  REMNANT  OF  ANOTHER  TIME 

"  Simple  and  true  I  share  -with  all 

The  treasures  of  a  kindly  mind  ; 
And  in  my  cottage,  poor  and  small, 
The  great  a  welcome  find. 

"  I  vex  not  Gods,  nor  patron  friend, 

For  larger  gifts  or  ampler  store  ; 
My  modest  Sabine  farm  can  lend 
All  that  I  want,  and  more." 

THEY  sat  in  silence,  —  it  was  pleasure  enough  to 
be  together,  —  and  Mary  knew  that  she  must  wait 
until  Master  Sullivan  himself  made  opportunity  for 
speaking  of  the  things  which  filled  her  heart. 

"  Have  I  ever  told  you  that  my  father  was  a  friend, 
in  his  young  days,  of  Christopher  Milton,  brother  to 
the  great  poet,  but  opposite  in  politics?"  he  asked,  as 
if  this  were  the  one  important  fact  to  be  made  clear. 
"  A  Stuart  partisan,  a  violent  Churchman,  and  a  most 
hot-headed  Tory,"  and  the  old  master  laughed  with 
sincere  amusement,  as  Mary  looked  up,  eager  to  hear 
more. 

"  Voltaire,  too,  had  just  such  a  contradiction  of  a 
brother,  credulous  and  full  of  superstitions,  • —  a  per 
fect  Jansenist  of  those  days.  Yes,  I  was  reading 
Horace  when  you  came,  but  for  very  homesickness  ; 
he  can  make  a  man  forget  all  his  own  affairs,  such  are 
his  polite  hospitalities  of  the  mind !  These  dark 


THE  REMNANT  OF  ANOTHER  TIME         147 

autumn  days  mind  me  every  year  of  Paris,  when  they 
come,  as  April  weather  makes  me  weep  for  childhood 
and  the  tears  and  smiles  of  Ireland." 

"  The  old  days  in  your  College  Louis-le-Grand," 
Mary  prompted  him,  in  the  moment's  silence.  "  Those 
are  your  Paris  days  I  love  the  best." 

"  Oh,  the  men  I  have  known  !  "  he  answered.  "  I 
can  sit  here  in  my  chair  and  watch  them  all  go  by 
again  down  the  narrow  streets.  I  have  seen  the  Abbe 
de  Chateauneuf  pass,  with  his  inseparable  copy  of 
Racine  sticking  out  of  his  pocket ;  I  often  hid  from 
him,  too,  in  the  shadow  of  an  archway,  with  a  young 
boy,  his  pupil  and  my  own  schoolfellow,  who  had  run 
away  from  his  tasks.  He  was  four  years  younger 
than  I.  Le  petit  Arouet  we  called  him  then,  who 
proves  now  to  be  the  very  great  Voltaire  !  Ah,  't  was 
an  idle  flock  of  us  that  ranged  the  old  cloisters  in  cap 
and  gown  ;  't  was  the  best  blood  in  France  !  I  have 
seen  the  illustrious  Duke  de  Boufflers  handsomely 
flogged  for  shooting  peas  at  dull  old  Lejay,  the  pro 
fessor.  (We  were  the  same  age,  Monsieur  de  Boufflers 
and  I ;  we  were  great  friends,  and  often  flogged  in 
company  for  our  deviltries.)  He  was  a  colonel  of 
the  French  army  in  that  moment,  and  bore  the  title 
of  Governor  of  Flanders ;  but  on  the  day  of  the  pea- 
shooting  they  flogged  him  so  that  I  cried  out  at  the 
sight,  and  turned  to  the  wall,  sick  at  heart.  As  for 
him,  he  sobbed  all  night  afterward,  and  caught  his 
breath  in  misery  next  morning  while  we  read  our 
Epictetus  from  the  same  book.  We  knelt  together 
before  the  high  altar  and  vowed  to  kill  Lejay  by 
dagger  or  poison  before  the  month's  end.  'T  was  a 
good  vow,  but  well  broken." 

The  old  man  laughed  again,  and  made  a  gay  French 


148  THE  TORY  LOVER 

gesture.  Mary  laughed  with  him,  and  they  had  a 
fine  moment  together. 

"  You  were  not  always  like  that,  —  you  must  have 
learned  your  lessons ;  it  was  not  all  idleness,"  Mary 
protested,  to  lead  him  on. 

"  The  old  fathers  taught  us  with  all  their  power  to 
gain  some  skill  in  the  use  of  words,"  reflected  the 
master  soberly.  "  Yes,  and  I  learned  to  fence,  too, 
at  the  college.  A  student  of  Louis-le-Grand  could 
always  speak  like  a  gentleman,  but  we  had  to  play 
with  our  words ;  't  was  the  most  important  of  all  our 
science.  '  Les  sottises,  toujours  les  sottises,'  "  grum 
bled  the  old  man.  "  Yes,  they  made  a  high  profession 
then  of  talking  nonsense,  though  France  was  whipped 
at  Blenheim  and  lost  the  great  fight  at  Malplaquet. 
They  could  laugh  at  the  ruined  convent  of  Port  Royal 
and  the  distresses  of  saintly  souls,  but  they  taught  us 
to  talk  nonsense,  and  to  dress  with  elegance,  and  to 
be  agreeable  to  ladies.  The  end  is  not  yet;  the 
throne  of  France  will  shake,  some  day,  until  heads 
fall  in  the  dust  like  fruit  that  nobody  stoops  to 
gather." 

The  master  fell  a- whispering  to  himself,  as  if  he 
had  forgotten  that  he  had  a  listener. 

"  I  saw  some  signs  of  it,  too.  I  knew  there,  when 
I  was  a  lad,  Le  Tellier,  the  King's  confessor,  who  was 
the  true  ruler  of  France.  I  rode  to  St.  Denis  myself, 
the  day  of  the  old  King's  funeral,  and  it  was  like  a 
fair :  people  were  singing  and  drinking  in  the  booths, 
and  no  one  all  along  the  way  but  had  his  gibe  at  Le 
Tellier,  whose  day  was  over,  thank  God !  Ah,  but  I 
was  a  gay  lad  then  ;  I  knew  no  country  but  France, 
and  I  cannot  but  love  her  yet ;  I  was  only  a  French 
man  of  my  gay  and  reckless  time.  There  was  saving 


THE  REMNANT  OF  ANOTHER  TIME         149 

grace  for  me,  and  I  passed  it  by  :  for  I  knew  the  great 
Fenelon,  and  God  forgive  my  sins,  but  I  have  been 
his  poor  parishioner  from  those  days  to  these.  I  knew 
his  nephew,  the  Abbe*  de  Beaumont,  and  I  rode  with 
him  in  the  holidays  to  Cambrai,  —  a  tiresome  journey ; 
but  we  were  young,  and  we  stayed  in  the  good  arch 
bishop's  house,  and  heard  him  preach  and  say  mass. 
He  was  the  best  of  Christians :  I  might  have  been  a 
worse  man  but  for  that  noble  saint.  Yes,  I  have  seen 
the  face  of  the  great  Fenelon,"  and  Master  Sullivan 
bent  his  head  and  blessed  himself.  The  unconscious 
habit  of  his  youth  served  best  to  express  the  reverence 
which  lay  deep  in  his  aged  heart. 

"  I  think  now,  as  I  look  back  on  those  far  days, 
that  my  good  archbishop  was  the  greatest  prince  and 
saint  of  them  all,  my  dear  child,"  said  the  old  teacher, 
looking  up  gently  from  his  reverie  into  Mary  Hamil 
ton's  face. 

"  You  belong  to  another  world,  mon  maitre,"  said 
the  girl  affectionately.  "  How  much  you  could  teach 
us,  if  we  were  but  fit  to  learn  !  " 

The  old  man  gave  an  impatient  fling  of  his  hand. 

"  I  am  past  eighty  years  old,  my  darling,"  he  an 
swered.  "  God  knows  I  have  not  been  fit  to  learn  of 
the  best  of  men,  else  I  might  now  be  one  of  the  wisest 
of  mankind.  I  have  lived  in  the  great  days  of  France, 
but  I  tell  you  plain,  I  have  lived  in  none  that  are 
fuller  of  the  seeds  of  greatness  than  these.  I  live  now 
in  my  sons,  and  our  Irish  veins  are  full  of  soldier's 
blood.  'T  is  Tir-nan-Og  here,  —  the  country  of  the 
young.  My  boys  have  their  mother's  energy,  thank 
God  !  As  for  me,  my  little  school  is  more  alive  than 
I.  There  is  always  a  bright  child  in  every  flock,  for 
whose  furthering  a  man  may  well  spend  himself. 


150  THE  TORY  LOVER 

'T  is  a  long  look  back ;  the  light  of  life  shone  bright 
with  me  in  its  beginning,  but  the  oil  in  the  old  lamp 
is  burning  low.  My  forbears  were  all  short-lived,  but 
the  rest  of  their  brief  days  are  added  to  the  length  of 
mine." 

"  'T  is  not  every  man  has  made  so  many  others  fit 
to  take  their  part  in  life,"  said  Mary.  "  Think  of 
your  own  sons,  master !  " 

"  Ay,  my  sons,"  said  the  old  man,  pleased  to  the 
heart,  "  and  they  have  their  mother's  beauty  and 
energy  to  couple  with  their  sad  old  father's  gift  of 
dreams.  The  princes  of  Beare  and  Bantry  are  cousins 
to  the  Banshee,  and  she  whispers  me  many  things.  I 
sometimes  fear  that  my  son  John,  the  general,  has  too 
much  prudence.  The  Whisperer  and  Prudence  are 
not  of  kin." 

There  was  a  new  silence  then ;  and  when  Master 
Sullivan  spoke  again,  it  was  with  a  sharp,  questioning 
look  in  his  eyes. 

"What  said  your  little  admiral  at  parting?  I 
heard  that  he  was  fretted  with  the  poor  outfitting  of 
his  ship,  and  sailed  away  with  scant  thanks  to  the 
authorities.  Prudence  cannot  deal  with  such  a  man 
as  that.  What  of  our  boy  Eoger  ?  How  fares  the 
poor  mother  since  she  lost  him  out  of  her  sight  ? 
'T  was  anxious  news  they  brought  me  of  his  going ; 
when  my  first  pride  had  blazed  down,  you  might  have 
seen  an  old  man's  tears." 

Mary  looked  up  ;  she  flushed  and  made  as  if  she 
would  speak,  but  remained  silent. 

"  You  '11  never  make  soldier  or  sailor  of  him,  boy 
or  man  ;  the  Lord  meant  him  for  a  country  gentle 
man,"  said  the  master  warningly  ;  and  at  this  moment 
all  Mary's  hopes  of  reassurance  fell  to  the  ground. 


THE  REMNANT  OF  ANOTHER  TIME         151 

"  My  son  John  is  a  soldier  born,"  lie  continued 
coldly ;  "  he  could  tell  you  where  the  troops  were 
placed  in  every  battle,  from  old  Troy  down  to  the 
siege  of  Louisburg." 

Mary  began  to  speak,  and  again  something  ailed 
her  throat.  She  turned  and  looked  toward  the  fire 
side,  where  the  old  housemother  was  knitting  now, 
and  humming  a  strange  old  Irish  tune  to  herself ;  she 
had  left  them  to  themselves  as  much  as  if  she  were 
miles  away. 

"  Incipit  vita  nova,"  said  the  master  under  his 
breath,  and  went  on  as  if  he  were  unobservant  of 
Mary's  startled  look. 

"Captain  Paul  Jones  is  a  man  of  the  world,  and 
Wallingford  is  a  country  gentleman  of  the  best  sort," 
he  continued ;  "  they  may  not  understand  each  other 
at  these  close  quarters.  I  mind  me  of  pushing  adven 
turers  in  my  old  days  who  came  from  the  back  corner 
of  nowhere,  and  yet  knew  the  worst  and  the  best  of 
Paris.  How  they  would  wink  at  their  fellows  when 
some  noble  boy  came  to  see  the  world,  from  one  of 
the  poor  and  proud  chateaux  of  Brittany  or  the  far 
south!  " 

"Roger  is  college-bred,  and  you  have  called  him 
your  own  best  scholar  of  these  later  da}^s,"  insisted 
Mary,  with  a  touch  of  indignation.  "  With  such 
kindred  in  Boston,  and  the  company  of  his  father's 
friends  from  childhood,  he  is  not  so  new  to  the  world." 

"  Ecce  Deus  fortior  me  qui  veniens  dominabitur 
mini,"  the  old  man  repeated  softly,  as  if  he  were  say 
ing  a  short  prayer ;  then  glanced  again  at  the  girl's 
beautiful  young  face  and  pleading  eyes.  "  Well,  the 
gallant  lads  have  sailed ! "  he  exclaimed,  with  de 
lighted  eagerness,  and  no  apparent  concern  for  his 


152  THE  TORY  LOVER 

listener's  opinion.  "  They  '11  be  in  good  season,  too, 
in  spite  of  all  delays.  What  say  the  loud  Patriots 
now,  who  are  so  full  of  fighting,  and  yet  find  good 
excuse  for  staying  at  home  ?  They  are  an  evil-minded 
chorus !  but  the  young  man  Wallingf ord  will  serve 
them  for  a  text  no  more.  His  father  was  a  man  of 
parts,  of  the  same  type  as  Washington  himself,  an  I 
mistake  not  that  great  leader,  though  never  put  to  the 
proof  by  so  high  a  summonsing  of  opportunity.  Our 
Roger  is  born  out  of  his  father's  clear  brain  rather 
than  his  fiery  heart.  I  see  in  him  the  growing  scholar- 
liness  and  quiet  authority  of  the  judge's  best  days 
upon  the  bench,  not  the  strong  soldier  of  the  Indian 
wars.  And  there  is  something  in  the  boy  that  holds 
by  the  past ;  he  may  be  a  persuaded  Patriot,  but  a 
Tory  ghost  of  a  conscience  plucks  him  by  the  sleeve. 
He  does  not  lack  greatness  of  soul,  but  I  doubt  if  he 
does  any  great  things  except  to  stand  honestly  in  his 
place,  a  scholar  and  a  gentleman  ;  and  that  is  enough." 

Mary  listened,  with  her  eyes  fixed  upon  Master 
Sullivan's  face. 

"  God  bless  the  poor  lads,  every  one !  We  must 
send  our  prayers  after  them.  Wallingf  ord  will  fall 
upon  evil  days  ;  't  will  try  him  in  blood  and  bone 
when  they  suspect  him,  as  they  surely  will.  God  help 
an  old  ruin  like  me !  If  I  were  there,  and  but  a 
younger  man !  "  and  the  master  clenched  the  arms  of 
his  chair,  while  something  Mary  never  had  seen  before 
flashed  in  his  eyes. 

"I  have  seen  much  fighting  in  my  time,"  he  said 
the  next  moment  to  Mary,  falling  to  a  gentler  mood. 
"My  mind  is  often  with  those  lads  on  the  ship." 
And  the  startled  girl  smiled  back  at  him  expectantly. 

"  I  am  glad  when  I  think  that  now  Roger  will  see 


THE   REMNANT  OF  ANOTHER  TIME         153 

France  again,  as  a  grown  man.  He  will  remember 
many  things  I  have  told  him.  I  wish  that  I  might 
have  seen  him  ere  he  went  away  so  suddenly.  Wher 
ever  he  is,  he  has  good  thoughts  in  his  head ;  he  al 
ways  loved  his  Latin,  and  can  even  stumble  through 
the  orchard  ground  and  smell  the  trodden  thyme 
with  old  Theocritus.  I  wish  I  had  been  there  at  your 
parting  feast.  'T  was  a  glory  to  the  house's  mistress, 
and  that  merchant  prince,  the  good  master  of  the 
river." 

"  Peggy  has  another  opinion  of  me.  '  Go  you  an' 
deck  the  tables,  an  it  please  you,  child,'  she  says, 
'  an'  leave  me  to  give  my  orders ; '  but  we  hold  some 
grave  consultations  for  all  that,"  insisted  Mary 
modestly.  "  She  is  very  stern  on  feast  days  with  us 
all,  is  Peggy." 

"  Lenient  in  the  main,"  urged  Master  Sullivan, 
smiling.  "  She  found  convoy  for  a  basket  of  her  best 
wares  only  yesterday,  with  a  message  that  she  had 
cooked  too  much  for  Portsmouth  gentlemen,  guests  who 
failed  in  their  visit.  Margery  and  I  feasted  in  high 
hall  together.  There  was  a  grand  bottle  of  claret." 

uMy  brother  chose  it  himself  from  the  cellar," 
said  Mary,  much  pleased,  but  still  there  was  a  look  of 
trouble  in  her  eyes. 

"You  will  give  him  my  thanks,  and  say  that  it 
made  a  young  French  gallant  of  me  for  a  pleasant 
hour.  The  only  fault  I  found  was  that  I  had  not  its 
giver  to  drink  share  and  share  with  me.  Margery, 
my  wife,  heard  tales  from  me  which  had  not  vexed  the 
air  these  fifty  years,  and,  being  as  warm  as  a  lady 
abbess  with  such  good  cheer,  she  fell  asleep  in  the 
middle  of  the  best  tale,  over  her  worsted  knitting! 
4  Sure,'  she  waked  to  tell  me,  '  if  these  be  true,  't  was 


154  THE  TORY  LOVER 

time  you  were  snatched  out  of  France  like  a  brand 
from  the  burning,  and  got  the  likes  o'  poor  me  to 
straighten  ye ! '  "  and  the  old  man  looked  at  Mary, 
with  a  twinkle  in  his  eyes. 

"  They  said  you  danced  all  night  with  the  little  cap 
tain,  and  that  he  spoke  his  love  on  the  terrace  in  the 
sight  of  more  than  one  of  the  company,"  said  the  mas 
ter  gayly.  "  'T  is  another  heart  you  've  broke,  I  sup 
pose,  and  sent  him  sad  away.  Or  was  it  his  uniform 
that  won  ye  ?  "  They  both  laughed,  but  Mary  blushed, 
and  wished  she  were  away  herself. 

"I  have  no  right  to  ask  what  passed  between  ye," 
he  said  then,  with  grave  -sweetness  that  won  her  back 
to  him.  "  I  find  him  a  man  of  great  power.  He  has 
the  thoughts  and  manners  of  a  gentleman,  and  now  he 
goes  to  face  his  opportunity,"  added  the  old  Irish 
rebel. 

"  'T  is  said  everywhere  that  your  great  captain  is  an 
earl's  son,"  said  Margery  unexpectedly,  from  the  fire 
side.  But  Master  Sullivan  slowly  shook  his  head. 
The  old  wife  was  impatient  of  contradiction  at  the 
best  of  times,  and  now  launched  forth  into  an  argu 
ment.  He  treated  her,  in  these  late  days,  as  if  she 
were  a  princess ;  but  't  was  a  trying  moment  to  him 
now,  and  luckily  the  old  volume  of  Horace  fell  from 
his  lap  to  the  floor. 

Mary  picked  it  up  quickly,  and  old  Margery's 
withered  cheeks  flushed  crimson  at  this  reminder  of 
the  sad  day  when  she  had  thrown  one  of  his  few  dear 
books  to  the  flames,  in  furious  revenge  for  what  she 
thought  his  willful  idleness  and  indifference  to  their 
poverty,  and  her  children's  needs.  "  Himself  cried" 
she  always  mourned  in  passionate  remorse,  when  any- 


THE   REMNANT  OF  ANOTHER  TIME          155 

thing  reminded  her  of  that  black  day.  She  fancied 
even  yet,  when  she  saw  the  master  stand  before  his 
little  bookshelf,  that  he  was  missing  the  lost  volume. 
"  Himself  cried  "  she  muttered  now,  and  was  silent; 
and  the  old  man  saw  her  lips  moving,  and  gave  her 
one  of  those  looks  of  touching  affection  that  had  kept 
her  for  fifty  years  his  happy  slave. 

"  Pie  is  a  bold  adventurer,  your  little  captain,"  he 
went  on,  "  but  a  man  of  very  marked  qualities." 

"  I  believe  that  he  will  prove  a  great  captain,"  said 
Mary. 

"  Yes,  he  is  all  that ;  I  have  seen  much  of  men," 
and  the  master  turned  to  look  out  of  the  window,  far 
down  the  winter  fields. 

"  His  heart  is  set  upon  the  future  of  our  country," 
said  Mary,  with  eagerness.  "He  speaks  with  elo 
quence  of  our  wrongs.  He  agrees  't  is  the  hindering 
of  our  own  natural  development,  and  the  forbidding  of 
our  industries  in  the  past,  that  has  brought  all  these 
troubles  ;  not  any  present  tyranny  or  special  taxes,  as 
some  insist.  He  speaks  like  a  New  Englander,  one 
of  ourselves,  and  he  has  new  ideas ;  I  heard  him  say 
that  every  village  should  govern  itself,  and  our  gov 
ernment  be  solely  for  those  necessities  common  to  all, 
and  this  would  do  away  with  tyranny.  He  was  very 
angry  when  Major  Haggens  laughed  and  pounded  the 
table,  and  said  that  our  villages  must  keep  to  the  same 
laws,  and  not  vex  one  another." 

"Your  captain  has  been  reading  that  new  writer, 
Monsieur  Rousseau,"  said  the  master  sagaciously,  and 
with  much  interest.  "  Rousseau  is  something  of  a 
genius.  My  son  James  brought  me  his  book  from 
Boston,  and  I  sat  up  all  night  to  read  it.  Yes,  he  is 
a  genius  at  his  best,  but  at  his  worst  no  greater  fool 


156  THE  TORY  LOVER 

ever  sneaked  or  flaunted  along  a  French  road.  'T  is 
like  the  old  donkey  in  Skibbereen,  that  was  a  lion  by 
night  with  his.  bold  braying,  and  when  the  sun  shone 
hung  his  head  and  cried  to  everybody,  '  Dont  beat 
me ! '  I  pray  God  that  no  pupil  of  mine  makes  the 
mistake  of  these  people,  who  can  see  no  difference 
between  the  church  of  their  own  day  and  Christianity 
itself.  My  old  Voltaire  has  been  his  master,  this 
Kousseau.  There  have  been  few  greater  men  in  the 
world  than  le  petit  Arouet,  but  't  was  a  bit  of  a  rascal, 
too  !  My  son  James  and  I  have  threshed  these  sub 
jects  lately,  until  the  flails  came  too  near  our  own 
heads.  I  have  seen  more  of  the  world  than  he,  but 
my  son  James  always  held  the  opinions  of  a  gentle 
man." 

"  These  subjects  are  far  too  large  for  me,"  Mary 
acknowledged  humbly. 

"  'T  is  only  that  our  opinions  are  too  small  for  the 
subjects,  —  even  mine  and  those  of  my  son  James," 
said  Master  Sullivan,  smiling ;  "  yet  every  man  who 
puts  his  whole  heart  into  them  helps  to  bring  the 
light  a  little  nearer.  Your  captain  is  a  good  French 
scholar ;  we  had  some  good  talk  together,  and  I 
learned  to  honor  the  man.  I  hope  he  will  be  friendly 
to  our  lad  at  sea,  and  be  large-hearted  in  such  a  case. 
I  have  much  pity  for  the  Loyalists,  now  I  am  an  old 
man  that  was  a  hot  enough  rebel  in  my  youth.  They 
have  many  true  reasons  on  their  side  for  not  breaking 
with  England,  and  they  cling  to  sentiment,  the  best  of 
them,  without  which  life  is  but  a  strange  machine. 
Yet  they  have  taken  the  wrong  side ;  they  will  find 
it  out  to  their  sorrow.  You  had  much  to  do  with 
Roger's  going,  my  child  ;  't  was  a  brave  thing  to  start 
him  in  the  right  road,  but  I  could  wish  he  and  his 


THE   REMNANT  OF  ANOTHER  TIME         157 

mother  had  been  a  sorrowing  pair  of  that  eleven  hun 
dred  who  went  out  of  Boston  with  the  English  troops. 
They  would  have  been  among  their  fellows  then,  and 
those  who  were  like-minded.  God  help  me  for  this 
faint-heartedness ! " 

To  this  moment  had  the  long  talk  come ;  to  this 
clear-spoken  anxiety  had  Mary  Hamilton  herself  led 
the  way.  She  could  not  part  from  so  wise  a  friend 
until  he  spoke  his  mind,  and  now  she  stood  piteous 
and  dismayed  before  his  searching  look.  It  was  not 
that  the  old  man  did  not  know  how  hard  his  words 
had  been. 

"  I  could  not  bear  that  he  should  be  disloyal  to  the 
country  that  gave  him  birth,  and  every  low  soul  be 
given  the  right  to  sneer  at  him.  And  the  mob  was 
ready  to  burn  his  mother's  house  ;  the  terror  and  dan 
ger  would  have  been  her  death,"  said  Mary.  "All 
this  you  know." 

"  The  boy  has  talked  much  with  me  this  summer," 
answered  the  schoolmaster,  "  and  he  put  me  questions 
which  I,  a  rebel,  and  the  son  of  rebels  against  Eng 
land,  could  not  answer  him.  I  ain  an  exile  here,  with 
my  birthright  gone,  my  place  among  men  left  empty, 
because  I  did  not  think  as  he  thinks  now  when  I  was 
young,  and  yet  I  could  not  answer  him.  '  I  could  as 
soon  forsake  my  mother  in  her  gathering  age  as  for 
sake  England  now,'  he  told  me,  one  day  in  the  sum 
mer.  He  stood  on  this  floor  before  me,  where  you 
stand  now,  and  looked  every  inch  a  man.  Now  he 
has  changed  his  mind  ;  now  he  puts  to  sea  in  an 
American  man-of-war,  with  those  to  whom  the  gentle 
arts  of  piracy  are  not  unknown,  and  he  must  fain  be 
of  their  company  who  go  to  make  England  suffer.  He 
has  done  this  only  that  he  may  win  your  heart." 


158  THE  TORY  LOVER 

The  master's  blue  eyes  were  black  and  blazing  with 
excitement,  and  Mary  fronted  him. 

"  You  cannot  think  him  a  rascal !  "  she  cried.  "  You 
must  believe  that  his  very  nature  has  changed.  It 
has  changed,  and  he  may  fight  with  a  heavy  heart, 
but  he  has  come  to  think  our  quarrel  just.  I  should 
break  my  own  heart  did  I  not  think  this  true.  Has 
he  not  sworn  his  oath?  Then  you  must  not  blame 
him ;  you  must  blame  me  if  all  this  course  was  wrong. 
I  did  push  him  forward  to  the  step.  God  help  me, 
master,  I  could  not  bear  we  should  be  ashamed  of 
him.  You  do  not  mean  that  't  were  better  he  had 
fled  with  the  Loyalists,  and  thrown  his  duty  down?" 

She  fell  to  her  knees  beside  the  old  man's  chair, 
and  her  hot  forehead  was  touching  his  thin  hand.  He 
laid  his  right  hand  on  her  head  then  as  if  in  blessing, 
but  he  did  not  speak. 

At  last  he  made  her  rise,  and  they  stood  side  by 
side  in  the  room. 

"  We  must  not  share  this  anxious  hour  with  Mar 
gery,  "  he  told  her  gently.  "  Go  away,  dear  child, 
while  she  still  sleeps.  I  did  not  know  the  sword  of 
war  had  struck  your  heart  so  deep.  You  must  wait 
for  much  time  to  pass  now ;  you  must  have  patience 
and  must  hear  bad  news.  They  will  call  Roger  Wal- 
lingford  a  spy,  and  he  may  even  flinch  when  the  mo 
ment  of  trial  comes.  I  do  not  think  he  will  flinch  ; 
't  is  the  woe  of  his  own  soul  that  I  sorrow  for ;  there 
is  that  in  him  which  forbids  the  traitor's  act.  Yet 
either  way  life  looks  to  him  but  treacherous.  The 
thought  of  his  love  shines  like  a  single  star  above  the 
two  roads,  and  that  alone  can  succor  him.  Forgive 
the  hardness  of  my  thoughts,  yes,  and  keep  you  close 
to  his  poor  mother  with  all  patience.  If  the  boy  gets 


THE  REMNANT  OF  ANOTHER  TIME         159 

into  trouble,  I  have  still  some  ancient  friendships 
that  will  serve  him,  for  my  sake,  in  England.  God 
grant  me  now  to  live  until  the  ship  comes  back  !  I 
trust  the  man  he  sails  with,  but  he  has  his  own  ends 
to  serve.  I  fear  he  is  of  the  Brevipennes,  the  short- 
winged  ;  they  can  run  better  for  what  wings  they  have, 
but  they  cannot  win  to  fly  clear  of  the  earth." 

"  I  could  tell  you  many  a  tale  now  that  I  have  shut 
close  in  my  heart  from  every  one  for  more  than  sixty 
years,"  said  Master  Sullivan  slowly,  with  an  impulse 
of  love  and  pity  that  he  could  not  forbid.  "  I  was 
a  poor  scholar  in  some  things,  in  my  young  days,  but 
I  made  sure  of  one  lesson  that  was  learnt  through 
pain.  The  best  friends  of  a  human  soul  are  Courage 
and  her  sister  Patience  !  " 

The  old  man's  beautiful  voice  had  a  strange  thrill 
in  it.  He  looked  as  if  he  were  a  king,  to  the  girl  who 
watched  him  ;  all  the  mystery  of  his  early  days,  the 
unexplained  self-denial  and  indifference  to  luxury, 
seemed  at  this  moment  more  incomprehensible  than 
ever.  The  dark  little  room,  the  unequal  companion 
ship  with  the  wife  who  slept  by  the  fire,  the  friend 
ship  of  his  heart  with  a  few  imperial  books,  and  the 
traditions  of  a  high  ancestry  made  evident  in  the  no 
ble  careers  and  present  standing  of  his  sons,  were 
enough  to  touch  any  imagination.  And  Mary  Hamil 
ton,  from  her  early  childhood,  had  found  him  the  best 
and  wisest  man  she  knew.  He  had  set  the  humblest 
Berwick  children  their  copies,  and  taught  them  to 
read  and  spell,  and  shared  his  St.  Augustine  and 
Homer  and  Horace  with  those  few  who  could  claim  the 
right.  She  stood  beside  him  now  in  her  day  of 
trouble ;  she  turned,  with  a  look  of  deep  love  on  her 


160  THE  TORY  LOVER 

face,  and  kissed  him  on  the  brow.  Whatever  the 
cause  had  been,  he  had  taken  upon  himself  the  harsh 
penalty  of  exile. 

"  Dear  friend,  I  must  be  gone,"  said  Mary,  with 
beautiful  womanliness  and  dignity.  "  You  have 
helped  me  again  who  have  never  failed  me  ;  do  not 
forget  me  in  these  days,  and  let  us  pray  for  Roger 
Wallingford,  that  he  may  be  steadfast.  Good-by, 
dear  master." 

Then,  a  minute  later,  the  old  man  heard  the  horse's 
quick  feet  go  away  down  the  hill. 

It  was  twilight  in  the  room.  "  I  believe  she  will 
love  the  boy,"  whispered  the  old  schoolmaster  to  him 
self.  "  I  thought  the  captain  might  wake  her  heart 
with  all  his  gallantry.  The  springs  of  love  are  living 
in  her  heart,  but  't  is  winter  still,  —  't  is  winter  still ! 
Love  frights  at  first  more  than  it  can  delight ;  't  will 
fright  my  little  lady  ere  it  comes !  " 

The  heavy  book  slipped  unheeded  to  the  floor  again. 
The  tired  old  woman  slept  on  by  the  dying  fire,  and 
Master  Sullivan  was  lost  in  his  lonely  thoughts,  until 
Hope  came  again  to  his  side,  bright  shining  in  a 
dream. 


XVIII 

OH   HAD   I   WIST! 


"  You  need  not  go  into  a  desert  and  fast,  a  crowd  is  often  more 
lonely  than  a  wilderness  and  small  things  harder  to  do  than  great." 

THE  ship  had  run  between  Belle  Isle  and  the  low 
curving  shores  of  Quiberon.  The  land  was  in  sight 
all  along  by  St.  Nazaire,  where  they  could  see  the 
gray-green  of  winter  fields,  and  the  dotted  fruit  trees 
about  the  farmhouses,  and  bits  of  bushy  woodland. 
Out  of  the  waste  of  waters  the  swift  way-wise  little 
Ranger  came  heading  safely  in  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Loire.  She  ran  among  all  the  shoals  and  sand  banks 
by  Paimboeuf,  and  past  the  shipyards  of  the  river 
shores,  until  she  came  to  harbor  and  let  her  anchor 
go. 

There  was  something  homelike  about  being  in  a 
river.  At  first  sight  the  Loire  wore  a  look  of  recent 
settlement,  rather  than  of  the  approach  to  a  city 
already  famous  in  old  Roman  times ;  the  shifting 
sand  dunes  and  the  empty  flats,  the  poor  scattered 
handfuls  of  houses  and  the  works  of  shipbuilding,  all 
wore  a  temporary  look.  These  shiftless,  primitive 
contrivances  of  men  sparsely  strewed  a  not  too  solid- 
looking  shore,  and  the  newcomers  could  see  little  of 
the  inland  country  behind  it.  It  was  a  strange  con 
trast  to  their  own  river  below  Portsmouth,  where  gray 
ledges  ribbed  the  earth  and  bolted  it  down  into  an 


162  THE  TORY  LOVER 

unchangeable  permanence  of  outline.  The  heights 
and  hollows  of  the  seaward  points  of  Newcastle  and 
the  Kittery  shore  stood  plain  before  his  mind's  eye  as 
Wallingford  came  on  deck,  and  these  strange  banks 
of  the  Loire  seemed  only  to  mask  reality  and  confuse 
his  vision.  Farther  up  the  stream  they  could  see  the 
gray  walls  of  Nantes  itself,  high  over  the  water,  with 
the  huge  towered  cathedral,  and  the  lesser  bulk  of 
the  castle  topping  all  the  roofs.  It  was  a  mild  day, 
with  little  air  moving. 

Dickson  came  along  the  deck,  looking  much  dis 
pleased.  That  morning  he  had  received  the  atten 
tion  of  being  kicked  down  the  companion  way  by  the 
captain,  and  nothing  could  soften  such  an  event,  not 
even  the  suggestion  from  his  conscience  that  he  had 
well  deserved  the  insult.  It  seemed  more  and  more, 
to  those  who  were  nearest  him,  as  if  Dickson  were 
at  heart  the  general  enemy  of  mankind.  —  jealous 
and  bitter  toward  those  who  stood  above  him,  and 
scornful  of  his  inferiors.  He  loved  to  defeat  the 
hopes  of  other  people,  to  throw  discredit  upon  sin 
cerity  ;  like  some  swift-creeping  thing  that  brings 
needless  discomfort  everywhere,  and  dismay,  and  an 
impartial  sting.  He  was  not  clever  enough  to  be  a 
maker  of  large  schemes,  but  rather  destructive,  crafty, 
and  evil-minded,  —  a  disturber  of  the  plans  of  others. 
All  this  was  in  his  face  ;  a  fixed  habit  of  smiling  only 
added  to  his  mean  appearance.  What  was  worst  of 
all,  being  a  great  maker  of  promises,  he  was  not  with 
out  influence,  and  had  his  following. 

The  fresh  air  from  the  land,  the  frosty  smell  of  the 
fields,  made  Wallingford  feel  the  more  despondent. 
The  certainty  had  now  come  to  his  mind  that  Paul 
Jones  would  never  have  consented  to  his  gaining  the 


OH  HAD  I  WIST! 163 

commission  of  lieutenant,  would  never  have  brought 
him,  so  untried  and  untrained,  to  sea,  but  for  jealousy, 
and  to  hinder  his  being  at  Mary  Hamilton's  side. 
This  was  the  keenest  hurt  to  his  pride  ;  the  thought 
had  stabbed  him  like  a  knife.  Again  he  made  a  des 
perate  plunge  into  the  sea  of  his  disasters,  and  was 
unconscious  even  of  the  man  who  was  near  by,  watch 
ing  him.  He  was  for  the  moment  blind  and  deaf  to 
all  reality,  as  he  stood  looking  along  the  water  toward 
the  Breton  town. 

"  All  ready  to  go  ashore,  sir  ?  "  asked  Dickson,  be 
hind  him,  in  an  ingratiating  tone ;  but  Wallingford 
gave  an  impatient  shrug  of  his  shoulders. 

"  'T  is  not  so  wintry  here  as  the  shore  must  look  at 
home,"  continued  Dickson.  "  Damn  that  coxcomb 
on  the  quarter-deck !  he  's  more  than  the  devil  him 
self  could  stand  for  company  !  " 

Wallingford,  instead  of  agreeing  in  his  present  dis 
affection,  turned  about,  and  stood  fronting  the  speaker. 
He  looked  Dickson  straight  in  the  eye,  as  if  daring 
him  to  speak  again,  whereat  Dickson  remained  silent. 
The  lieutenant  stood  like  a  prince. 

"  I  see  that  I  intrude,"  said  the  other,  rallying  his 
self-consequence.  "  You  have  even  less  obligation  to 
Captain  Paul  Jones  than  you  may  think,"  he  con 
tinued,  dropping  his  voice  and  playing  his  last  trump. 
"  I  overheard,  by  accident,  some  talk  of  his  on  the 
terrace  with  a  certain  young  lady  whom  your  high 
loftiness  might  not  allow  me  to  mention.  He  called 
you  a  cursed  young  spy  and  a  Tory,  and  she  im 
plored  him  to  protect  you.  She  said  you  was  her  old 
playmate,  and  that  she  wanted  you  got  out  o'  the  way 
o'  trouble.  He  had  his  arm  round  her,  and  he  said 
he  might  be  ruined  by  you ;  he  cursed  you  up  hill  and 


164  THE  TORY  LOVER 

down,  while  she  was  a-pleadin'.  'Twas  all  for  her 
sake,  and  your  mother's  bein'  brought  into  distress  "  — 

Dickson  spoke  rapidly,  and  edged  a  step  or  two 
away ;  but  his  shoulder  was  clutched  as  if  a  panther's 
teeth  had  it  instead  of  a  man's  hand. 

"  I  '11  kill  you  if  you  give  me  another  word  !  "  said 
Roger  Wallingford.  "  If  I  knew  you  told  the  whole 
truth,  I  should  be  just  as  ready  to  drop  you  over 
board." 

"  I  have  told  the  truth,"  said  Dickson. 

"  I  know  you  are  n't  above  eavesdropping,"  an 
swered  Wallingford,  with  contempt.  "  If  you  desire 
to  know  what  I  think  of  your  sneaking  on  the  outside 
of  a  man's  house  where  you  have  been  denied  entrance, 
I  am  willing  to  tell  you.  I  heard  you  were  there  that 
night." 

"  You  were  outside  yourself,  to  keep  me  company, 
and  I  'm  as  good  a  gentleman  as  Jack  Hamilton," 
protested  Dickson.  uHe  went  the  rounds  of  the 
farms  with  a  shoemaker's  kit,  in  the  start  of  his  high 
fortunes." 

"  Mr.  Hamilton  would  mend  a  shoe  as  honestly  in 
his  young  poverty  as  he  would  sit  in  council  now. 
So  he  has  come  to  be  a  rich  merchant  and  a  trusted 
man."  There  was  something  in  Wallingford's  calm 
manner  that  had  power  to  fire  even  Dickson 's  cold 
and  sluggish  blood. 

"  I  take  no  insults  from  you,  Mr.  Lieutenant !  "  he 
exclaimed,  in  a  black  rage,  and  passed  along  the  deck 
to  escape  further  conversation. 

There  had  been  men  of  the  crew  within  hearing. 
Dickson  had  said  what  he  wished  to  say,  and  a  moment 
later  he  was  thinking  no  less  highly  of  himself  than 
ever.  He  would  yet  compass  the  downfall  of  the  two 


OH   HAD   I  WIST! 165 

men  whom  he  hated.  He  had  already  set  them  well 
on  their  way  to  compass  the  downfall  of  each  other. 
It  made  a  man  chuckle  with  savage  joy  to  think  of 
looking  on  at  the  game. 

Wallingford  went  below  again,  and  set  himself  to 
some  work  in  his  own  cabin.  Character  and  the  habit 
of  self-possession  could  carry  a  man  through  many 
trying  instances,  but  life  now  seemed  in  a  worse  con 
fusion  than  before.  This  was  impossible  to  bear  ;  he 
brushed  his  papers  to  the  floor  with  a  sweep  of  his 
arm.  His  heart  was  as  heavy  as  lead  within  him. 
Alas,  he  had  seen  the  ring!  "Perhaps — perhaps" 
—  he  said  next  moment  to  himself  —  "  she  might  do 
even  that,  if  she  loved  a  man  ;  she  could  think  of 
nothing  then  but  that  I  must  be  got  away  to  sea !  " 

"  Poor  little  girl !  O  God,  how  I  love  her  !  "  and 
he  bent  his  head  sorrowfully,  while  an  agony  of  grief 
and  dismay  mastered  him.  He  had  never  yet  been 
put  to  such  awful  misery  of  mind. 

"  'T  is  my  great  trial  that  has  come  upon  me,"  he 
said  humbly.  "  I  '11  stick  to  my  duty,  —  't  is  all  that 
I  can  do,  —  and  Heaven  help  me  to  bear  the  rest. 
Thank  God,  I  have  my  duty  to  the  ship !  " 


XIX 

THE   BEST-LAID   PLANS 

"Artists  have  come  to  study  from  these  marbles  .  .  .  Boys  have 
flung  stones  against  the  sculptured  and  unmindful  devils." 

As  soon  as  the  Ranger  was  at  Nantes,  and  the  for 
malities  of  the  port  could  be  left  in  the  hands  of  his 
officers,  Captain  Paul  Jones  set  forth  in  haste  toward 
Paris  to  deliver  his  despatches.  He  was  only  sixty 
hours  upon  the  road,  passing  over  the  country  as  if 
he  saw  it  from  a  balloon,  and  at  last  had  the  supreme 
disappointment  of  finding  that  his  proud  errand  was 
forestalled.  He  had  driven  himself  and  his  ship  for 
nothing  ;  the  news  of  Burgoyne's  surrender  had  been 
carried  by  a  messenger  from  Boston,  on  a  fast-sailing 
French  vessel,  and  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Com 
missioners  a  few  hours  before  his  own  arrival.  It  was 
understood  some  time  before,  between  the  Marine 
Committee  of  the  colonies  and  Captain  Paul  Jones, 
that  he  was  to  take  command  of  the  fine  frigate  L'ln- 
dien,  which  was  then  building  in  Amsterdam ;  but  he 
received  no  felicitations  now  for  his  rapid  voyage, 
and  found  no  delightful  accumulations  of  important 
work,  and  was  by  no  means  acknowledged  as  the 
chief  and  captain  of  a  great  enterprise.  As  the  Ran 
ger  had  come  into  harbor  like  any  ordinary  vessel 
from  the  high  seas,  unheralded  and  without  greeting, 
so  Paul  Jones  now  found  himself  of  no  public  con- 


THE  BEST-LAID   PLANS  167 

sequence  or  interest  in  Paris.  What  was  to  be  done 
must  all  be  done  by  himself.  The  Commissioners  had 
their  hands  full  of  other  affairs,  and  the  captain  stood 
in  the  position  of  a  man  who  brought  news  to  deaf 
ears.  They  listened  to  his  eager  talk  and  well-matured 
plans  with  some  wonder,  and  even  a  forced  attention, 
as  if  he  were  but  an  interruption,  and  not  a  leader  for 
any  enterprise  they  had  in  hand.  To  him,  it  had 
almost  seemed  as  if  his  great  projects  were  already 
accomplished. 

It  was  in  every  way  a  most  difficult  situation.  The 
ownership  of  the  Indien  frigate  had  been  carefully 
concealed.  Paul  Jones  himself  had  furnished  the 
plans  for  her,  and  the  Commissioners  in  France  had 
made  contracts  under  other  signatures  for  her  build 
ing  in  the  neutral  port  of  Amsterdam.  It  was  indis 
pensable  that  the  secret  of  her  destiny  should  be  kept 
from  England ;  but  at  the  moment  when  she  was 
ready  to  be  put  into  commission,  and  Paul  Jones  was 
on  the  sea,  with  the  full  expectation  of  finding  his 
ship  ready  when  he  came  to  France,  some  one  in  the 
secret  had  betrayed  it,  and  the  British  officials  at 
Amsterdam  spoke  openly  to  the  government  of  the 
Netherlands,  and  demanded  that  the  frigate  should  be 
detained  for  breach  of  neutrality,  she  being  destined 
for  an  American  ship  of  war.  There  was  nothing  to 
be  done.  The  Commissioners  had  made  some  efforts 
to  hold  the  frigate,  but  in  the  end  France  had  come 
forward  and  stood  their  friend  by  buying  her,  and 
at  a  good  price.  This  had  happened  only  a  few  days 
before,  so  Captain  Paul  Jones  must  hear  the  sorry 
tale  when  he  came  to  Paris  and  saw  the  three  Amer 
ican  Commissioners. 

He  stood  before  them,  a  sea-tanned  and  weary  little 


168  THE  TORY  LOVER 

hero,  with  his  eyes  flashing  fire.  One  of  the  three 
Commissioners,  Arthur  Lee,  could  not  meet  his  ag 
grieved  and  angry  looks.  To  be  sure,  the  money  was 
in  hand  again,  and  they  could  buy  another  ship ;  but 
the  Indien,  the  Indien  was  irrecoverable. 

"  If  I  had  been  there,  gentlemen,"  cried  Paul  Jones, 
with  a  mighty  oath,  "nothing  would  have  held  me 
long  in  port !  I  'd  have  sailed  her  across  dry  ground, 
but  I  'd  have  got  her  safe  to  sea !  She  was  ours  in 
the  sight  of  Heaven,  and  all  the  nations  in  the  world 
could  not  prevent  me  !  " 

Mr.  Franklin  looked  on  with  approval  at  so  noble 
and  forgivable  a  rage ;  the  others  wore  a  wearied  and 
disgusted  look,  and  Mr.  Arthur  Lee  set  himself  to  the 
careful  mending  of  a  pen.  It  was  a  sorry  hour  for 
good  men  ;  and  without  getting  any  definite  promise, 
and  having  bestowed  many  unavailing  reproaches,  at 
last  Paul  Jones  could  only  fling  himself  out  of  Paris 
again,  and  in  black  despair  post  back  to  the  Hanger 
at  Nantes.  He  had  the  solitary  comfort,  before  he 
left,  of  a  friendly  and  compassionate  interview  granted 
by  Mr.  Franklin,  who,  over-burdened  though  he  was, 
and  much  vexed  by  a  younger  man's  accusations,  had 
yet  the  largeness  of  mind  to  see  things  from  the  cap 
tain's  side.  There  was  nothing  for  it  but  patience, 
until  affairs  should  take  a  turn,  as  the  Commissioner 
most  patiently  explained. 

All  the  captain's  high  hopes  and  ceaseless  industry 
in  regard  to  his  own  plans  were  scattered  like  straws 
in  the  wind.  He  must  set  his  mind  now  to  the  present 
possibilities.  Worst  of  all,  he  had  made  an  enemy  in 
his  quick  mistrust  and  scorn  of  Mr.  Arthur  Lee,  a  man 
who  would  block  many  another  plan,  and  hinder  him 
in  the  end  as  a  great  sea  captain  and  hero  had  never 
been  worse  hindered  since  the  world  began. 


THE   BEST-LAID   PLANS  169 

Dickson  stood  on  the  deck  of  the  Ranger,  by  the 
gangway,  when  the  captain  came  aboard,  fatigued  and 
disappointed ;  it  might  be  that  some  creature  of  Lee's 
sending  had  already  spoken  with  Diekson  and  pre 
pared  him  for  what  was  to  come.  He  made  a  most 
handsome  salutation,  however,  and  Lieutenant  Simp 
son,  hoping  for  news  of  his  own  promotion,  stepped 
forward  with  an  honest  welcome. 

"  Gentlemen,  I  have  much  to  tell  you,  and  of  an 
unwelcome  sort,"  said  the  captain,  with  unusual  dig 
nity  of  bearing.  "  There  is  one  blessing  :  our  defeat 
of  Burgoyne  has  brought  us  France  for  an  ally.  I 
hoped  for  good  news  as  regards  ourselves,  but  we  have 
been  betrayed  by  an  enemy  ;  we  have  lost  the  frigate 
which  I  have  had  a  hand  in  building,  and  of  whose 
command  I  was  altogether  certain  for  more  than  a 
year  past.  We  must  now  wait  for  further  orders  here, 
and  refit  the  Ranger,  and  presently  get  to  sea  with 
her  instead.  I  own  that  it  is  a  great  disappointment 
to  us  all." 

Dickson  wore  no  look  of  surprise ;  he  was  too  full 
of  triumph.  Lieutenant  Simpson  was  crestfallen.  The 
other  officers  and  men  who  were  near  enough  to  hear 
looked  angry  and  disturbed.  They  had  been  per 
suaded  that  they  must  be  rid  of  the  captain  before 
they  could  follow  their  own  purposes.  'T  was  a 
strange  and  piteous  condition  of  things  aboard  the 
Ranger,  and  an  example  of  what  the  poison  of  lies 
and  a  narrow-minded  jealousy  can  do  to  set  honest 
minds  awry.  And  Paul  Jones  had  himself  to  thank 
for  much  ill  will :  he  had  a  quick  temper,  and  a  savage 
way  of  speaking  to  his  fellows.  The  one  thing  he 
could  not  bear  was  perfidy,  and  a  bland  and  double 
disposition  in  a  man  seemed  at  once  to  deserve  the 
tread  of  his  angry  heel. 


170  THE  TORY  LOVER 

The  captain  was  hardly  to  be  seen  for  a  day  or  two 
after  his  return,  except  in  occasional  forays  of  fault 
finding.  Wallingford  was  successful  in  keeping  out 
of  his  way ;  the  great  fact  that  all  his  own  best  hopes 
had  been  destroyed  dulled  him  even  to  feelings  of 
resentment.  While  suffering  his  great  dismay  he 
could  almost  forget  the  cause  whence  it  came,  arid 
even  pitied,  for  other  reasons,  the  man  who  had  worn 
the  ring.  The  first  stroke  of  a  bullet  only  benumbs  ; 
the  fierceness  of  pain  comes  later.  Again  and  again 
he  stood  before  Mary  Hamilton,  and  lived  over  the 
night  when  he  had  stood  at  the  window  and  dared  to 
meet  her  beautiful  angry  eyes ;  again  and  again  he 
reviewed  those  gentler  moments  by  the  river,  when 
her  eyes  were  full  of  their  old  affection,  though  her 
words  were  stern.  He  had  won  her  plain  promise 
that  some  day,  having  served  their  country,  he  might 
return  to  her  side,  and  clung  to  that  promise  like  a 
last  hope. 

It  already  seemed  a  year  since  the  night  when  Wal 
lingford  and  the  captain  had  dined  together.  The 
steward  had  interrupted  them  just  as  the  lieutenant 
sprung  to  his  feet. 

"  Must  we  say  good-night,  then  ?  "  said  Paul  Jones, 
protesting.  "  As  for  me,  I  ought  to  be  at  my  papers. 
Send  me  William  Earl  to  write  for  me,"  he  told  the 
steward.  "  Thank  you  for  your  good  company,  Mr. 
Wallingford.  I  hope  we  may  have  many  such  even 
ings  together." 

Yet  he  had  looked  after  his  guest  with  a  sense  that 
something  had  gone  wrong  at  this  last  moment,  though 
the  steward  had  found  them  hand  in  hand. 

The  sight  of  the  ring  among  his  possessions,  that 
day  when  he  made  ready  for  the  journey  to  Paris,  had 


THE   BEST-LAID   PLANS  171 

given  him  a  moment  of  deep  happiness  ;  he  had  placed 
it  on  his  finger,  with  a  certain  affectionate  vanity. 
Yet  it  was  a  token  of  confidence,  and  in  some  sense  a 
reward.  He  had  been  unjust  in  the  beginning  to  the 
young  lieutenant ;  he  had  now  come  to  like  and  to  trust 
him  more  than  any  other  man  on  board  the  ship.  In  the 
exciting  days  that  had  followed,  rings,  and  lieutenants, 
and  even  so  lovely  a  friend  and  lady  as  Miss  Mary 
Hamilton  had  been  forgotten. 

Yet  at  most  unexpected  moments  Paul  Jones  did 
remember  her,  and  his  heart  longed  for  the  moment 
when  they  should  meet  once  more,  and  he  might  plead 
his  cause.  "  L'absence  diminue  les  petits  amours  et 
augmente  les  grandes,  comme  le  vent  qui  £temt  les 
bougies  et  rallume  la  feu." 

The  captain  at  once  began  to  hasten  the  work  of 
refitting  the  Ranger  for  sea.  He  gave  no  explana 
tions  ;  he  was  more  surly  in  temper,  and  strangely 
uncompanionable.  Now  that  they  could  no  longer 
admire  his  seamanship  in  a  quick  voyage,  the  sailors 
rated  him  for  the  ship's  idleness  and  their  long  deten 
tion  in  port.  This  was  not  what  they  had  signed  for. 
Dickson  now  and  then  let  fall  a  word  which  showed 
that  he  had  means  of  information  that  were  altogether 
his  own ;  he  was  often  on  shore,  and  seemed  free  with 
his  money.  Lieutenant  Wallingford  and  the  surgeon, 
with  some  of  the  other  officers,  became  familiar  with 
the  amusements  of  Nantes;  but  the  lieutenant  was 
observed  by  every  one  to  be  downhearted  and  inclined 
to  solitary  walks,  and  by  night  he  kept  his  cabin  alone, 
with  no  inclination  toward  company.  He  had  been 
friendly  with  every  one  in  the  early  part  of  the  voy 
age,  like  a  man  who  has  no  fear  of  risking  a  kind 


172  THE  TORY  LOVER 

word.  The  surgeon,  after  making  unwonted  efforts  to 
gain  his  old  neighbor's  confidence,  ignored  him  with 
the  rest,  until  he  should  come  to  himself  again. 

This  added  to  the  constraint  and  discomfort  on 
board  the  Ranger.  She  was  crowded  with  men  eager 
enough  for  action,  and  yet  kept  in  idleness  under  a 
needlessly  strict  discipline.  Simpson,  the  senior  lieu 
tenant,  willingly  received  the  complaints  of  officers 
and  crew,  and  Dickson's  ceaseless  insistence  that 
Simpson  was  their  rightful  leader  began  to  have  its 
desired  effect. 


XX 

NOW  AKE  WE   FEIENDS   AGAIN? 

"  My  altar  holds  a  constant  flame." 

SOME  dreary  days,  and  even  weeks,  passed  by,  and 
one  evening  Wallingford  passed  the  captain's  cabin 
on  his  way  to  his  own.  It  had  lately  been  rough, 
windy  weather  in  the  harbor,  but  that  night  the  Kan- 
ger  was  on  an  even  keel,  and  as  steady  as  if  she  were 
a  well-built  house  on  shore. 

The  door  was  open.  "  Is  that  you,  Mr.  Walling 
ford  ?  Come  in,  will  you  ?  "  The  captain  gave  his 
invitation  the  air  of  a  command. 

Wallingford  obeyed,  but  stood  reluctant  before  his 
superior. 

"  I  thought  afterward  that  you  had  gone  off  in 
something  of  a  flurry,  that  night  we  dined  together, 
and  you  have  avoided  any  conversation  with  me  since 
my  return  from  Paris.  I  don't  like  your  looks  now. 
Has  anything  come  between  us  ?  Do  you  repent  your 
confidence  ?  " 

"  No,  I  do  not  repent  it,"  said  the  lieutenant  slowly. 
"Something  has  touched  your  happiness.  Come, 
out  with  it !  We  were  like  brothers  then.  The  steward 
caught  us  hand  in  hand  ;  it  is  long  since  I  have  had 
so  happy  an  evening.  I  am  grateful  for  such  friend 
ship  as  you  showed  me,  when  we  were  together  that 
night.  God  knows  I  have  felt  the  lack  of  friendship 


174  THE  TORY  LOVER 

these  many  days  past.  Come,  sir,  what 's  your  griev 
ance  with  me? " 

"  It  is  nothing  that  I  should  tell  you.  You  must 
excuse  me,  sir." 

The  captain  looked  at  him  steadily.  "  Had  I  some 
part  in  it  ?  Then  you  are  unjust  not  to  speak." 

There  was  great  kindness,  and  even  solicitude,  in 
Paul  Jones's  tone.  Wallingford  was  moved.  It  was 
easier  to  find  fault  with  the  captain  when  his  eyes  were 
not  upon  one ;  they  had  great  power  over  a  man. 

"  Come,  my  dear  fellow,"  he  said  again,  "  speak  to 
me  with  frankness;  you  have  no  sincerer  friend  than 
I." 

"  It  was  the  sight  of  the  ring  on  your  finger,  then. 
I  do  not  think  you  meant  to  taunt  me,  but  to  see  it 
was  enough  to  rob  me  of  my  hope,  sir :  that  was  all." 

The  captain  colored  and  looked  distressed ;  then  he 
covered  his  eyes,  with  an  impatient  gesture.  He  had 
not  a  guilty  air,  or  even  an  air  of  provocation  ;  it 
struck  Wallingford  at  the  moment  that  he  wore  no 
look,  either,  of  triumphant  happiness,  such  as  befitted 
the  accepted  lover  of  Mary  Hamilton. 

"  You  knew  the  ring?  "  asked  the  captain,  looking 
up,  after  some  moments  of  perplexing  silence. 

"  I  have  always  known  it,"  answered  Roger  Walling 
ford  ;  "  we  were  very  old  friends.  Of  late  I  had  been 
gathering  hope,  and  now,  sir,  it  seems  that  I  must  wish 
another  man  the  joy  I  lived  but  to  gain." 

"  Sit  ye  down,"  said  the  captain.  "  I  thought  once 
that  I  might  gather  hope,  too.  No  man  could  wish 
for  greater  happiness  on  earth  than  the  love  of  such  a 
lady  :  we  are  agreed  to  that." 

Then  he  was  silent  again.  The  beauty  of  Mary 
Hamilton  seemed  once  more  before  his  eyes,  as  if  the 


NOW  ARE   WE   FRIENDS  AGAIN?  175 

dim-lighted  cabin  and  the  close-set  timbers  of  the  ship 
were  all  away,  and  he  stood  again  on  the  terrace  above 
the  river  with  the  pleading  girl.  She  had  promised  that 
she  would  set  a  star  in  the  sky  for  him  ;  he  should  go 
back,  one  day,  and  lay  his  victories  at  her  feet.  How 
could  a  man  tell  if  she  really  loved  this  young  Walling- 
ford  ?  In  the  natural  jealousy  of  that  last  moment 
when  they  were  together,  he  had  felt  a  fierce  delight 
in  bringing  Wallingford  away  ;  she  was  far  too  good 
for  him,  —  or  for  any  man,  when  one  came  to  that ! 
Yet  he  had  come  himself  to  love  the  boy.  If,  through 
much  suffering,  the  captain  had  not  stood,  that  day, 
at  the  very  height  of  his  own  character,  with  the  en 
deavor  to  summon  all  his  powers  for  a  new  effort,  the 
scale  at  this  moment  would  have  turned. 

"  My  dear  lad,  she  is  not  mine,"  he  said  frankly. 
"  God  knows  I  wish  it  might  be  otherwise  !  You  for 
get  I  am  a  sailor."  He  laughed  a  little,  and  then  grew 
serious.  "  'T  is  her  ring,  indeed,  and  she  gave  it  me, 
but  't  was  a  gift  of  friendship.  See,  I  can  kiss  it  011 
my  finger  with  you  looking  on,  and  pray  God  aloud  to 
bless  the  lovely  giver.  'T  will  hold  me  to  my  best, 
and  all  the  saints  know  how  I  stand  in  need  of  such  a 
talisman  ! " 

"  You  do  not  mean  it,  sir  ?  "  faltered  Roger.  "  Can 
you  mean  that  " 

"  Now  are  we  friends  again  ?  Yes,  I  mean  it !  Let 
us  be  friends,  Wallingford.  No,  no,  there  need  be 
nothing  said.  I  own  that  I  have  had  my  hopes,  but 
Miss  Hamilton  gave  me  no  promise.  If  you  go  home 
before  me,  or  without  me,  as  well  may  happen,  you 
shall  carry  back  the  ring.  Ah  no,  for  't  is  my  charm 
against  despair  !  "  he  said.  "  I  am  sore  vexed  ;  I  am 
too  often  the  prey  of  my  vulgar  temper,  but  God  knows 


176  THE  TORY  LOVER 

I  am  sore  vexed.  Let  us  be  friends.  I  must  have 
some  honest  man  believe  in  me,  among  these  tricksters." 
The  captain  now  bent  to  his  writing,  as  if  he  could 
trust  himself  to  say  no  more,  and  waved  the  lieutenant 
to  be  gone.  "  God  help  me,  and  I  '11  win  her  yet !  " 
he  cried  next  moment,  when  he  was  alone  again,  and 
lifted  his  face  as  if  Heaven  must  listen  to  the  vow. 
"  Women  like  her  are  blessed  with  wondrous  deep 
affections  rather  than  quick  passion,"  he  said  again 
softly.  "  'T  is  heaven  itself  within  a  heart  like  that, 
but  Love  is  yet  asleep." 

The  lights  of  Nantes  and  the  lanterns  of  the  shipping 
were  all  mirrored  in  the  Loire,  that  night ;  there  was 
a  soft  noise  of  the  river  current  about  the  ship.  The 
stars  shone  thick  in  the  sky ;  they  were  not  looking 
down  on  so  happy  a  lover  the  world  over  as  Roger 
Wallingford.  He  stood  by  the  mainmast  in  the  cold 
night  air,  the  sudden  turn  of  things  bewildering  his 
brain,  his  strong  young  heart  beating  but  unsteadily. 
Alas,  it  was  weeks  ago  that  a  single,  stiffly  phrased 
letter  had  gone  home  to  his  mother,  and  Mary's  own 
letter  was  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea.  There  was  a  swift 
homeward-bound  brig  just  weighing  anchor  that  had 
ventured  to  sea  in  spite  of  foes,  and  taken  all  the  letters 
from  the  Ranger,  and  now  it  might  be  weeks  before 
he  could  write  again.  Oh,  distance,  distance !  how 
cruel  are  the  long  miles  of  sea  that  separate  those  who 
love,  and  long  to  be  together ! 

Later  that  night,  before  they  turned  in,  the  officers 
and  crew  beheld  Captain  Paul  Jones  and  his  lately 
estranged  lieutenant  pacing  the  deck  together.  They 
were  looked  upon  with  pleasure  by  some  who  honored 
them  both,  but  next  day  a  new  whispering  was  set 
forward ;  there  was  need  of  suspicion,  since  this  new 


NOW  ARE  WE  FRIENDS  AGAIN?  177 

alliance  might  mean  concerted  betrayal,  and  Paul 
Jones  himself  was  not  above  being  won  over  to  the 
Tories,  being  but  an  adventurer  on  his  own  account. 
Dickson  was  as  busy  as  the  devil  in  a  gale  of  wind. 
His  own  plots  had  so  far  come  to  naught ;  he  had  not 
set  these  officers  to  hate  each  other,  or  forced  them 
to  compass  each  other's  downfall.  On  the  contrary, 
they  had  never  really  been  fast  friends  until  now. 

The  only  thing  was  to  rouse  public  opinion  against 
them  both.  It  were  easy  enough  :  he  had  promised  to 
meet  again  the  man  whom  he  had  met  in  the  tavern 
the  day  before,  —  that  messenger  of  Thornton,  who  had 
given  hints  of  great  reward  if  any  one  would  give  cer 
tain  information  which  was  already  in  Dickson's  keep 
ing.  That  night  he  shook  his  fist  at  the  two  figures 
that  paced  the  quarter-deck. 

"  One  of  you  came  out  of  pride  and  ambition,"  he 
muttered,  "  and  the  other  to  please  his  lady  !  We  men 
are  here  for  our  own  rights,  and  to  show  that  the  colo 
nies  mean  business !  " 


XXI 

THE   CAPTAIN   GIVES   AN   ORDER 

"  But  see  how  they  turn  their  backs  and  go  out  of  the  city,  and  how 
merrily  and  joyfully  they  take  the  road  to  Paris." 

THE  captain  was  dressed  in  his  best  uniform,  fresh 
from  its  tailor's  wrappings,  with  all  his  bright  lace 
and  gilt  buttons  none  the  worse  for  sea  damp.  With 
manners  gay  enough  to  match,  he  bade  good-morning 
to  whoever  appeared,  and  paced  his  twelve  steps  for 
ward  and  back  on  the  quarter-deck  like  the  lucky  prince 
in  a  fairy  story.  Something  had  happened  to  make  a 
new  pleasure ;  at  any  rate,  Mr.  Paul  Jones  was  high 
above  any  sense  of  displeasure,  and  well  content  with 
the  warm  satisfaction  of  his  own  thoughts. 

Presently  this  cheerful  captain  sent  a  ship's  boy  to 
command  the  presence  of  Mr.  Wallingford,  and  Mr. 
Wallingf  ord  came  promptly  in  answer  to  the  summons. 
There  was  so  evident  a  beginning  of  some  high  official 
function  that  the  lieutenant,  not  unfamiliar  with  such 
affairs,  became  certain  that  the  maj^or  and  corporation 
of  Nantes  must  be  expected  to  breakfast,  and  lent 
himself  not  unwillingly  to  the  play. 

"  You  will  attend  me  to  Paris,  sir,"  announced  the 
commander.  "  I  shall  wait  the  delays  of  our  Com 
missioners  no  longer.  '  If  you  want  a  good  servant, 
go  yourself,'  as  our  wise  adviser,  Poor  Kichard,  has 
well  counseled  us.  I  mean  to  take  him  at  his  word. 


THE  CAPTAIN  GIVES   AN  ORDER  179 

Can  you  be  ready  within  the  hour,  Mr.  Wallingford  ? 
'T  is  short  notice  for  you,  but  I  have  plenty  left  of  my 
good  Virginia  money  to  serve  us  on  our  way.  The 
boat  awaits  us." 

Wallingford  made  his  salute,  and  hastened  below ; 
his  heart  beat  fast  with  pleasure,  being  a  young  heart, 
and  the  immediate  world  of  France  much  to  its  liking. 
The  world  of  the  Ranger  appeared  to  grow  smaller 
day  by  day,  and  freedom  is  ever  a  welcome  gift. 

When  the  lieutenant  reached  his  berth  the  captain's 
arrangements  had  preceded  him  :  there  was  a  sailor 
already  waiting  with  the  leather  portmanteau  which 
Wallingford  had  brought  to  sea.  The  old  judge,  his 
father,  had  carried  it  on  many  an  errand  of  peace 
and  justice,  and  to  the  son  it  brought  a  quick  reminder 
of  home  and  college  journeys,  and  a  young  man's 
happy  anticipations.  The  sight  of  it  seemed  to  change 
everything,  stained  though  this  old  enchanter's  wallet 
might  be  with  sea  water,  and  its  brasses  green  with 
verdigris.  The  owner  beheld  it  with  complete  delight ; 
as  for  the  sailor,  he  misunderstood  a  sudden  gesture, 
and  thought  he  was  being  blamed. 

"  Cap'n  ordered  it  up,  sir  ;  never  demeaned  hisself 
to  say  what  for,"  apologized  Cooper. 

"  Take  hold  now  and  stow  these  things  I  give  you," 
said  the  excited  lieutenant.  "  Trouble  is,  every  man 
on  board  this  ship  tries  to  be  captain.  Don't  wrap 
those  boots  in  my  clean  linen  !  " 

"  I  ain't  no  proper  servant ;  takes  too  much 
1'arnin',"  protested  Cooper  good-naturedly,  seeing  that 
the  young  squire  was  in  a  happy  frame.  "  Our  folks 
was  all  content  to  be  good  farmers  an'  live  warm  on 
their  own  land,  till  I  took  up  with  follerin'  the  sea. 
Lord  give  me  help  to  get  safe  home  this  time,  an'  I 


180  THE  TORY  LOVER 

won't  take  the  chances  no  more.  A  ship  's  no  place 
for  a  Christian." 

Wallingford's  mind  was  stretched  to  the  task  of 
making  sudden  provision  for  what  might  not  be  a  short 
absence  ;  he  could  hear  the  captain's  impatient  tramp 
on  the  deck  overhead. 

"  I  expect  old  Madam,  your  lady  mother,  and  my 
sister  Susan  was  the  last  ones  to  pack  your  gear  for 
you  ?  "  ventured  this  friend  of  many  years,  in  a  careful 
voice,  and  Wallingford  gave  him  a  pat  on  the  shoulder 
for  answer. 

"  We  '11  speed  matters  by  this  journey  to  Paris,  if 
all  goes  well,"  he  replied  kindly.  "  Keep  the  men 
patient ;  there  are  stirrers-up  of  trouble  aboard  that 
can  do  the  crew  more  harm  than  the  captain,  if  they 
get  their  way.  You  '11  soon  understand  everything. 
France  cannot  yet  act  freely,  and  we  must  take  long 
views." 

"  Wish  't  I  was  to  home  now,"  mourned  Cooper 
gloomily. 

"  Don  't  fear !  "  cried  Wallingford  gayly,  though 
't  was  but  a  pair  of  days  since  he  himself  had  feared 
everything,  and  carried  a  glum  face  for  all  the  crew 
to  see.  "  Good-day,  Cooper.  If  anything  should  hap 
pen  to  me,  you  must  carry  back  word  ! "  he  added, 
with  boyish  bravado. 

"  Lord  bless  you  !  "  said  Cooper.  "  I  figur'  me 
darin'  to  go  nigh  the  gre't  house  with  any  bad  tidin's 
o'  you  !  Marm  Susan  'd  take  an'  scalp  me,  's  if  I  'd 
been  the  fust  to  blame."  At  which  they  laughed 
together,  and  hurried  to  the  deck. 

"  'T  is  high  time  !  "  blustered  the  captain ;  but  once 
in  the  boat,  he  became  light-hearted  and  companion 
able.  It  was  as  if  they  had  both  left  all  their  troubles 
behind  them. 


THE  CAPTAIN  GIVES  AN   ORDER  181 

"  There  's  Simpson  and  Sargent  and  that  yellow- 
faced  Dickson  leaning  over  the  side  to  look  after  us 
and  think  how  well  they  can  spare  us  both,"  grumbled 
Paul  Jones.  "  I  can  see  them  there,  whether  I  turn 
my  head  or  not.  I  've  set  them  stints  enough  for  a 
fortnight,  and  named  this  day  week  for  our  return. 
Lay  out !  lay  out !  "  cried  the  captain.  "  Give  way, 
my  lads  !  "  and  settled  himself  in  the  boat. 

The  wind  was  fresh ;  the  waves  splashed  into  the 
gig  as  they  toiled  steadily  up  the  river.  The  walls  of 
the  old  castle  looked  grim  and  high,  as  they  came 
under  the  city.  In  the  cathedral  abode  the  one  thing 
that  was  dear  to  Wallingford's  heart  in  this  strange 
place,  —  the  stately  figure  of  Anne  of  Brittany,  stand 
ing  at  her  mother's  feet  by  the  great  Renaissance 
tomb.  She  wore  a  look  like  Mary  Hamilton  when 
she  was  most  serious,  so  calm  and  sweet  across  the 
brow.  The  young  officer  had  discovered  this  lovely 
queen,  and  her  still  lovelier  likeness,  on  a  dark  and 
downcast  day,  and  had  often  been  grateful  since  for 
the  pleasure  of  beholding  her ;  he  now  sent  a  quick 
thought  into  the  cathedral  from  the  depths  of  his  fond 
heart. 

The  two  travelers,  in  their  bright  uniforms,  hurried 
up  through  the  busy  town  to  a  large  inn,  where  the 
captain  had  ordered  his  post  horses  to  be  ready.  Bre 
tons  and  Frenchmen  both  cheered  them  as  they 
passed  the  market  place :  the  errand  of  the  Ranger 
was  well  known,  and  much  spending-money  had  made 
most  of  her  ship's  company  plenty  of  friends  ashore. 
They  took  their  seats  in  the  post  chaise,  not  with 
out  disappointment  on  Wallingford's  part,  who  had 
counted  upon  riding  a  good  French  horse  to  Paris 
instead  of  jolting  upon  stiff  springs.  There  was  more 


182  THE  TORY  LOVER 

than  one  day,  however ;  the  morning  was  fresh  and 
bright,  and  there  were  too  many  mercies  beside  to  let 
a  man  groan  over  anything. 

The  thought  now  struck  Wallingford,  as  if  he  were 
by  far  the  elder  man,  that  they  might  well  have  worn 
their  every-day  clothes  upon  the  journey,  but  he  had 
not  the  heart  to  speak.  The  captain  wore  such  an 
innocent  look  of  enjoyment,  and  of  frankly  accepting 
the  part  of  a  proven  hero  and  unprotested  great  man. 

"  I  must  order  a  couple  of  suits  of  new  uniform 
from  one  of  their  best  tailors,"  said  Mr.  Paul  Jones, 
only  half  conscious  of  his  listener.  One  moment 
the  hardened  man  of  affairs  and  rough  sea  bully,  at 
the  next  one  saw  him  thus  ;  frank,  compassionate  of 
others,  and  amused  by  small  pleasures,  —  the  senti 
mental  philosopher  who  scattered  largess  of  alms  like 
a  royal  prince  all  along  the  white  French  roads. 

"  I  go  north  by  Rennes  and  Vitre,  and  to  Paris  by 
Alenc^on.  I  am  told  the  roads  are  good,  and  the  worst 
inns  passable,  while  the  best  are  the  best,"  said  the 
little  captain,  dropping  the  last  of  his  lofty  manner 
of  the  quarter-deck,  and  turning  to  his  companion 
with  a  most  frank  air  of  good-fellowship.  "  We  can 
return  by  the  Loire.  I  hear  that  we  can  come  by 
barge  from  Orleans  to  Nantes  in  four  days,  lying  in 
the  river  inns  by  night.  I  have  no  love  for  the  road 
I  was  so  sorry  on  last  month,  or  the  inns  that  stood 
beside  it." 

The  young  men  sat  straight-backed  and  a  little  pom 
pous  in  the  post  chaise,  with  their  best  cocked  hats 
bobbing  and  turning  quickly  toward  each  other  in  the 
pleasures  of  conversation.  Was  this  the  same  Paul 
Jones  who  so  vexed  his  ship  with  bawling  voice  and 
harsh  behavior,  this  quiet,  gay-hearted  man  of  the 


THE  CAPTAIN  GIVES  AN  ORDER  183 

world,  who  seemed  to  play  the  princely  traveler  even 
more  easily  than  he  crowded  sail  on  the  Eanger  all 
across  the  stormy  seas,  —  the  flail  of  whose  speech 
left  nobody  untouched  ?  He  was  so  delightful  at  that 
moment,  so  full  of  charming  sympathy  and  keenest 
observation,  that  all  private  grievances  must  have 
been  dissolved  into  the  sweet  French  air  and  the  blue 
heaven  over  their  heads. 

"  There  were  others  of  my  officers  who  might  well 
go  to  Paris,  but  I  wanted  the  right  gentleman  with  me 
now,"  explained  the  captain  with  frankness.  "  'T  is 
above  all  a  gentleman's  place  when  court  matters  are 
in  hand.  You  have  some  acquaintance,  with  their 
language,  too,  which  is  vastly  important.  I  blessed 
Heaven  last  time  for  every  word  I  knew ;  't  was  most 
of  it  hard  learnt  in  my  early  days,  when  I  was  a  sailor 
before  the  mast,  and  had  but  a  single  poor  book  to 
help  me.  No  man  can  go  much  in  the  world  over  here 
without  his  French.  And  you  know  Paris,  too,  Mr. 
Wallingford,  while  I  am  almost  a  stranger  in  the 
streets.  I  cared  not  where  I  was,  in  my  late  distresses, 
though  I  had  longed  to  see  the  sights  of  Paris  all  my 
life  !  My  whole  heart  is  in  the  journey  now,  tiresome 
though  we  may  find  many  a  day's  long  leagues." 

"  'T  is  some  years  since  I  lived  there  for  a  month," 
said  Wallingford  modestly  ;  but  a  vision  of  all  the 
pleasure  and  splendor  of  the  great  city  rose  to  his 
mind's  eye. 

"  I  have  suffered  unbelievable  torture  on  that  petty 
ship !  "  exclaimed  Paul  Jones  suddenly,  waving  his 
hand  toward  the  harbor  they  were  fast  leaving  out  of 
sight.  "  Now  for  the  green  fields  of  France  and  for 
the  High  Commissioners  at  Paris  !  I  wish  to  God  my 
old  auntie  Jean  MacDuff,  that  was  fain  to  be  prood  o' 


184  THE  TORY  LOVER 

me,  could  see  me  with  my  two  postilions  on  the  road, 
this  day."  And  such  was  the  gayety  of  the  moment, 
and  the  boyish  pride  of  the  little  sailor,  that  his  com 
panion  fairly  loved  him  for  the  wish,  and  began  to 
think  tenderly  of  his  own  dear  love,  and  of  his  mother 
waiting  and  watching  by  the  riverside  at  home. 

"  '  Vitre,'  "  he  repeated  presently,  with  fresh  expec 
tation,  —  "  't  is  a  name  I  know  well,  but  I  cannot  call 
to  mind  the  associations ;  of  the  town  of  Eennes  I  do 
not  remember  to  have  heard." 

"  I  wish  that  I  could  have  fallen  in  with  their  great 
admiral,  Bailli  Suffren,"  said  the  captain,  leaning 
back  in  the  post  chaise,  and  heaving  a  sigh  of  perfect 
content.  "  We  know  not  where  he  sails  the  sea ;  but 
if  it  chanced  that  he  were  now  on  his  way  to  the  fleet 
at  Brest,  or  going  up  to  Paris  from  the  sea,  like  our 
selves,  and  we  chanced  to  meet  at  an  inn,  how  I  should 
beg  the  honor  of  his  acquaintance  !  The  King  ought 
to  put  a  sailor  like  that  beside  him  on  his  throne; 
as  for  Bailli  Suffren,  he  has  served  France  as  well 
as  any  man  who  ever  lived.  Look,  there  are  two 
poor  sailors  of  another  sort,  fresh  from  their  vessel, 
too !  See  how  wide  they  tread  from  balancing  on  the 
decks ;  they  have  been  long  at  sea,  poor  devils  !  "  he 
grumbled,  as  the  post  chaise  overtook  a  forlorn  pair  of 
seamen,  each  carrying  a  loose  bundle  on  his  back. 
They  were  still  young  men,  but  their  faces  looked  dis 
appointed  and  sad.  Seeing  that  the  captain  fumbled 
in  his  waistcoat  pocket,  Wallingford  did  the  same,  and 
two  bright  louis  d'or  flew  through  the  morning  air  and 
dropped  at  the  sailors'  feet.  They  gave  a  shout  of 
joy,  and  the  two  young  lords  in  the  post  chaise  passed 
gayly  on. 

"They'll  sit  long  at  the  next  inn,"  said  Captain 


THE  CAPTAIN  GIVES   AN  ORDER  185 

Paul  Jones.  "  They  were  thin  as  those  salt  fish  we 
shipped  for  the  voyage,  at  Newcastle." 

"  A  prime  dun  fish  is  a  dainty  not  to  be  despised," 
urged  Wallingford,  true  to  his  local  traditions. 

"  'T  is  either  a  dainty,  or  a  cedar  shingle  well  pre 
served  in  brine,  which  is  eatable  by  no  man,"  pro 
nounced  the  captain,  speaking  with  the  authority  of  an 
epicure.  "  We  must  now  deal  with  their  best  French 
dishes  while  we  stay  in  Paris.  Mr.  Franklin  will  no 
doubt  advise  us  in  regard  to  their  best  inns.  I  was 
careless  of  the  matter  in  my  first  visit." 

"  'T  was  Poor  Eichard  himself  said,  c  A  fat  kitchen 
makes  a  lean  will,'  "  laughed  Wallingford,  "  but  he  is 
a  great  man  for  the  proprieties." 


XXII 

THE   GREAT   COMMISSIONER 

"  The  Philosopher  sheweth  you  the  way." 

THE  heads  of  the  high  Yitre  houses  nodded  together 
above  their  narrow  streets,  as  if  to  gossip  about  two 
unexpected  cocked  hats  that  passed  below.  This  uni 
form  of  the  Continental  navy  was  new  enough,  but  old 
Yitre  had  seen  many  new  and  strange  things  since 
she  herself  was  young.  The  two  officers  had  an  air  of 
proud  command  about  them,  and  seemed  to  expect 
the  best  rooms  at  the  inn,  and  the  best  wines. 

"  'T  was  here  the  famous  Marchioness  de  Sevignd 
dwelt !  "  exclaimed  Wallingford,  with  triumph.  "  My 
mother  often  read  a  book  of  her  letters  to  my  father, 
on  a  winter  evening.  I  thought  them  dull  then,  but 
I  know  now  't  was  most  pretty  reading,  with  some 
thing  of  fresh  charm  011  every  page.  She  had  her 
castle  here  at  Yitre ;  she  was  a  very  great  lady,"  con 
tinued  the  lieutenant,  explaining  modestly.  "  She 
spoke  much  in  her  letters  about  her  orange  trees,  but 
I  think  that  she  was  ill  at  ease,  so  far  from  Paris." 

"  We  could  visit  her  to-night,  if  she  were  still  in 
Yitre,"  said  the  captain.  "  'T  would  pass  our  time  most 
pleasantly,  I  dare  say.  But  I  take  it  the  poor  lady  is 
dead,  since  we  have  her  memoirs.  Yes,  I  mind  me 
of  the  letters,  too  ;  I  saw  them  in  a  handsome  binding 
once  at  Arbigland,  when  I  was  a  lad.  The  laird's 


THE  GREAT  COMMISSIONER  187 

lady,  Mrs.  Craik,  read  the  language ;  she  had  been 
much  in  France,  like  many  of  our  Scottish  gentlefolk. 
Perhaps  't  was  her  very  castle  that  we  observed  as  we 
came  near  the  town,  with  the  quaint  round  tower  that 
stood  apart." 

"  'T  was  the  chapel  of  Madame,"  said  the  old  French 
serving  man  on  a  sudden,  and  in  good  English.  "  Mes 
sieurs  will  pardon  me,  but  my  grandfather  was  long 
ago  one  of  her  head  foresters." 

The  gentlemen  turned  and  received  this  informa 
tion  with  a  politeness  equal  to  that  with  which  it  was 
given. 

"  'T  is  a  fine  country,  France,"  said  the  little  cap 
tain  handsomely.  "  Let  us  fill  our  glasses  again  to 
the  glory  of  France  and  the  success  of  our  expedition." 
Then,  "  Let  us  drink  to  old  England  too,  Mr.  Wal- 
lingford,  and  that  she  may  be  brought  to  reason,"  he 
added  unexpectedly,  when  they  had  drunk  the  first 
toast.  "  There  is  no  such  soldier-breeder  as  England; 
and  as  for  her  sailors,  they  are  the  Northmen  of  old, 
born  again  for  the  glory  of  a  later  time." 

The  next  day  but  two  they  came  into  the  gate  _of 
Paris,  and  saw  the  dark  prison  of  the  Bastille,  the 
Tour  St.  Jacques,  and  the  great  cathedral  of  Notre 
Dame.  It  was  late  afternoon,  and  Paris  looked  like 
a  greater  Vitre,  but  with  higher  houses  that  also  nod 
ded  together,  and  a  busier  world  of  shops  and  palaces 
and  churches.  Wallingford  returned  with  older  eyes 
to  see  much  that  had  escaped  him  as  a  boy.  And  to 
Captain  Paul  Jones  there  was  a  noble  assurance  in 
finding  the  capital  city  of  his  adopted  country's  allies 
so  rich  and  splendid  ;  above  all,  so  frankly  gay.  There 
was  none  of  the  prim  discretion  of  those  English  and 


188  THE  TORY  LOVER 

Scottish  towns  with  which  he  was  most  familiar.  Paris 
was  in  her  prime,  and  was  wholly  independent  of 
trifles,  like  a  fine  lady  who  admitted  these  two  admir 
ing  strangers  to  the  hospitality  of  her  house,  with  the 
unconcern  of  one  whose  dwelling  was  well  furnished 
and  well  served.  The  old  French  kings  had  gone 
away  one  by  one,  and  left  their  palaces  behind  them,  — 
the  long  facades  of  the  Louvre,  and  the  pleasant  courts 
of  the  Palais  Royal,  and  many  another  noble  pile. 
Here  in  Paris,  Mr.  Benjamin  Franklin,  the  Bon 
Homme  Richard,  was  bearing  his  difficult  honors  as 
first  citizen  of  a  new  republic,  and  living  on  good 
terms  with  the  best  gentlemen  of  France.  His  house, 
which  he  had  from  Monsieur  Le  Ray  de  Chaumont, 
was  at  the  other  end  of  Paris,  at  Passy,  a  village 
beyond  the  suburbs  of  the  great  town  ;  and  next  morn 
ing,  the  young  men,  well  mounted,  rode  thither  with  a 
groom  behind  them,  and  alighted  at  the  Commission 
er's  door. 

Mr.  Benjamin  Franklin  was  in  the  midst  of  his 
morning  affairs.  He  was  dressed  in  a  suit  of  reddish- 
brown  velvet,  with  white  stockings,  and  had  laid  his 
white  hat  beside  him  on  a  table  which  was  covered 
with  papers  and  a  few  serious-looking  books.  It  was 
a  Tuesday,  and  he  had  been  to  court  with  the  rest  of 
the  diplomats,  having  lately  been  presented  with  the 
two  American  Commissioners,  his  fellows,  to  his  ma 
jesty  the  King. 

He  rose  with  a  courteous  air  of  welcome,  as  the 
young  men  entered,  and  looked  sharply  at  them,  and 
then  at  their  uniforms  with  much  indulgent  interest. 

"  You  are  the  representatives  of  our  navy.  'T  is 
a  very  dignified  dress ;  I  am  glad  to  see  it,  —  and  to 


THE   GREAT  COMMISSIONER  189 

receive  its  wearers,"  he  added,  smiling,  while  the  offi 
cers  bowed  again  gravely. 

"  I  was  in  a  poor  enough  undress  at  my  first  visit, 
and  fresh  from  travel  in  the  worst  of  weather,"  said 
Paul  Jones,  lowering  his  voice  at  the  sad  remem 
brance. 

"Mr.  Wallingf ord ! "  and  the  old  Commissioner 
turned  quickly  toward  the  younger  guest.  "  I  remem 
ber  you  as  a  lad  in  Portsmouth.  As  for  my  good 
friend  your  honored  father,  he  will  be  unforgettable 
to  those  who  knew  him.  You  begin  to  wear  his 
looks ;  they  will  increase,  I  think,  as  you  gather  age. 
Sit  ye  down,  gentlemen,  sit  ye  down  !  "  and  he  waved 
them  to  two  straight  chairs  which  stood  side  by  side 
at  some  distance  down  the  room,  in  the  French  fash 
ion.  Then  he  seated  himself  again  behind  his  table, 
and  gave  audience. 

Captain  Paul  Jones  was  occupied  for  a  moment  in 
placing  his  heavy  sword.  Wallingford  was  still  look 
ing  eagerly  toward  their  host. 

"  You  are  very  good  to  remember  me,  sir,"  he  said. 
"  I  counted  it  a  great  honor  that  my  father  let  me 
attend  him  that  day,  at  Mr.  Warner's  dinner.  You 
will  be  pleased  to  know  that  the  lightning  conductors 
are  still  in  place  on  the  house,  and  are  much  shown  to 
strangers  in  these  days  as  being  of  your  planning." 

The  philosopher  smiled  at  his  young  friend's 
warmth ;  there  was  something  most  homely  and  ami 
able  mingled  with  his  great  dignity. 

"  And  my  friend  Mr.  John  Langdon  ?  I  have 
deeply  considered  our  dispatches  from  him,  and  espe 
cially  the  letter  from  Kobert  Morris,  which  agrees  in 
the  main  with  your  own  ideas,  sir,"  and  he  bowed  to 
Captain  Paul  Jones.  "And  my  friend  Langdon?"  he 
repeated,  looking  for  his  answer  to  the  lieutenant. 


190  THE  TORY  LOVER 

"  Mr.  Langdon  was  very  well,  sir,  though  much 
wearied  with  his  cares,  and  sent  his  best  remem 
brances  and  respects  in  case  I  should  be  so  honored 
as  to  see  you.  And  also  Mr.  Nicholas  Oilman,  of 
Exeter,  who  was  with  him,  beside  many  Portsmouth 
gentlemen,  your  old  friends." 

"  Our  men  at  home  carry  the  heaviest  burdens," 
said  Mr.  Franklin,  sighing,  "  yet  I  wish  every  day 
that  I  might  be  at  home,  as  they  are." 

"  My  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  Simpson,  is  the  brother- 
in-law  of  Major  Langdon,"  said  Captain  Paul  Jones, 
flushing  like  a  boy  as  he  spoke.  He  could  not  help  a 
somewhat  uncomfortable  sense  of  being  on  the  quar 
ter-deck  of  a  commander  much  greater  than  himself, 
and  an  uncertain  feeling  about  their  relations  that 
tried  him  very  much,  but  he  wore  a  manly  look  and 
kept  to  his  quietest  manners.  He  had  parted  from 
the  Commissioner,  at  their  last  interview,  in  deep  dis 
tress  and  a  high  passion. 

"  You  have  found  Lieutenant  Simpson  an  excellent 
officer,  no  doubt,  with  the  large  experience  of  a 
Portsmouth  shipmaster,"  observed  Mr.  Franklin 
blandly.  He  cast  a  shrewd  look  at  the  captain  ;  but 
while  his  firm  mouth  set  itself  a  little  more  firmly, 
there  was  a  humorous  gleam  of  half  inquiry,  half  in 
dulgence,  in  his  wide-set  eyes. 

"  You  have  spoken  him,  sir,"  acknowledged  Cap 
tain  Paul  Jones,  while  with  equal  self-possession  and 
a  touch  of  deference  he  waited  for  the  Commissioner 
to  lead  the  conversation  further,  and  thereby  did  not 
displease  Mr.  Franklin,  who  had  feared  an  inter 
view  of  angry  accusation  and  indignant  resentment. 
Wallingford,  too,  was  conscious  of  great  pleasure  in 
his  captain's  bearing. 


THE  GREAT  COMMISSIONER  191 

There  was  a  pause,  and  Mr.  Franklin  looked  again 
at  the  captain,  and  bowed  slightly  from  his  chair. 

"  You  may  say  what  you  have  come  to  say  to  me, 
Captain  Paul  Jones.  You  can  no  doubt  trust  Mr. 
Wallingford,  you  see  that  I  have  for  the  moment  dis 
missed  my  secretary." 

"  I  can  trust  Mr.  Wallingford,"  answered  the  cap 
tain,  holding  himself  steady,  but  rising  from  the  chair 
unconsciously,  and  taking  a  step  nearer  to  the  table. 
His  new  cocked  hat  was  crushed  under  his  arm,  and 
Wallingford  could  see  that  the  whole  figure  of  the 
man  was  in  a  nervous  quiver. 

"  I  can  trust  Mr.  Wallingford,"  he  repeated  sternly, 
"  but  I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot  say  the  same  of  Lieu 
tenant  Simpson.  I  have  suffered  too  much  already 
at  his  hands  through  his  endeavors  to  supplant  me  as 
commander  of  the  Ranger.  He  has  descended  to  the 
poor  means  of  disputing  my  authority  before  my  crew, 
and  stimulating  them  in  their  rebellion  and  surly 
feelings.  A  crew  is  easily  prejudiced  against  its 
superiors.  You  must  be  well  aware,  sir,  how  difficult 
a  proper  government  may  become  at  sea ;  't  is  a  hard 
life  at  best  for  crew  or  captain,  and  its  only  safety  is 
in  wise  control  and  decent  obedience." 

"  Do  you  desire  to  make  formal  complaint  of  your 
lieutenant?  It  is  hardly  my  province,"  said  the 
Commissioner.  The  amused  look  had  left  his  eyes, 
and  they  were  as  firm  now  as  if  he  were  a  great  judge 
on  the  bench. 

"  I  respect  your  anxieties,"  he  added  next  moment, 
when  he  saw  that  he  held  the  captain  in  check.  "  I 
am  not  unaware  of  your  high  aims,  your  great  disap 
pointment,  or  your  most  difficult  conditions  of  the 
present.  But  these  conditions  and  the  varieties  of 


192  THE  TORY  LOVER 

human  nature  among  so  large  a  ship's  company  were 
not  unknown  to  you.  The  uncongenial  man  and  the 
self-seeking,  unwilling  assistant  must  always  be  borne 
with  patience,  among  our  fellows.  Besides,  we  par 
don  anything  to  those  we  love,  and  forgive  nothing  to 
those  we  hate.  You  may  go  on,  sir." 

"  The  trouble  has  come  in  great  measure  from  an 
open  understanding,  long  before  we  set  sail  out  of 
Portsmouth,  that  I  was  to  be  given  another  frigate 
immediately  upon  my  arrival,  and  that  Simpson  was 
to  take  command  of  the  Ranger  in  my  stead,"  said 
Paul  Jones.  "  Now  that  all  is  over  in  regard  to  the 
Indien,  he  can  fret  under  the  long  delay  no  worse 
than  I,  but  shows  his  impatience  of  my  orders  at 
times  and  seasons  when  it  ill  befits  him,  and  most 
wrongs  and  debases  me ;  he  behaves,  on  the  slightest 
provocation,  as  if  I  had  deeply  injured  him,  and  gives 
no  reason  why.  He  is  my  senior  in  age,  which  has 
added  much  to  the  difficulty  between  us.  He  loses 
no  chance  to  hint  that  I  am  bent  on  selfish  ends  ; 
even,  I  believe,  that  my  principles,  my  character,  may 
be  questioned  in  this  matter.  My  crew  have  become 
sensitive  to  the  fear  that  I  cannot  be  trusted,  owing 
to  my  Scottish  birth  and  early  life  spent  upon  British 
vessels,  —  as  if  they  were  any  of  them  of  a  very  dif 
ferent  blood  and  descent !  There  is  a  worse  man 
on  board  than  Simpson,  a  man  named  Dickson,  who, 
to  further  his  own  ends,  furthers  the  lieutenant's.  He 
has  insisted  from  the  first  that  Mr.  Wallingford  is 
a  Tory  spy,  and  that  the  Ranger  should  be  in  the 
hands  of  those  who  could  fill  their  pockets  with  prize 
money.  He,  and  perhaps  Simpson  himself,  bewail 
their  disappointment  at  discovering  that  a  man-of-war 
is  not  the  same  as  a  privateer.  Their  ignorance  of 


THE  GREAT  COMMISSIONER  193 

statecraft  and  the  laws  of  naval  science  and  duty 
seems  to  make  them  smile  with  derision  at  all  proper 
discipline  as  if  at  some  pompous  horseplay." 

The  captain's  face  was  red  now,  and  his  voice 
sharpening  to  undue  loudness  ;  but  at  an  anxious 
gesture  from  Wallingford  he  grew  quiet  again. 

"  I  come  to  ask  you,  Mr.  Commissioner,  if  by  any 
means  I  can  further  this  business  and  hasten  my 
transfer  to  another  ship ;  but  I  must  first  do  what  I 
can  with  the  Ranger.  She  is  unfit  for  any  great  ac 
tion,  but  we  can  make  a  pretty  showing  in  small  mat 
ters.  My  head  is  full  of  ideas  which  I  should  be 
glad  to  lay  before  you.  I  desire  to  strike  a  smart 
blow  at  the  English  coast,  to  counteract  the  burnings 
of  our  towns  at  home,  and  the  interference  with  our 
shipping,  and  to  stop  the  prisoning  of  our  sailors.  I 
can  light  a  fire  in  England  that  will  show  them  we  are 
a  people  to  be  feared,  and  not  teased  and  laughed  at. 
I  ask  you  now  how  far  France  is  ready  to  help  me." 

"We  have  good  friends  in  England  still,"  said  the 
Commissioner  slowly.  "  Some  of  the  best  minds  and 
best  characters  among  Englishmen  see  our  question 
of  the  colonies  with  perfect  fairness ;  the  common 
people  are  in  great  part  for  us,  too,  and  I  have  not 
yet  lost  hope  that  they  may  win  the  day.  But  of  late 
things  have  gone  almost  too  far  for  hope.  Mr.  Wal 
lingford,"  and  he  turned  abruptly  toward  the  lieu 
tenant,  "  I  must  not  forget  to  ask  you  for  your 
mother's  health.  I  have  thought  of  her  many  times  in 
her  widowhood  ;  she  would  ill  bear  the  saddest  loss 
that  can  fall  upon  any  of  us,  but  she  would  bear  it 
nobly." 

The  captain  felt  himself  silenced  in  the  very  gather 
ing  and  uplift  of  his  eloquence,  when  he  was  only  de- 


194  THE  TORY  LOVER 

layed  out  of  kind  consideration.  Koger  Wallingford 
answered  the  kind  old  man  briefly  and  with  deep 
feeling ;  then  the  conference  went  on.  The  captain 
was  in  full  force  of  his  honest  determination. 

"Since  I  cannot  have  the  Indien,  as  we  well  know, 
what  ship  can  I  have  ?  "  he  demanded.  "  Shall  I  do 
what  I  can  with  the  Kanger  ?  'T  were  far  better 
than  such  idleness  as  this.  When  I  have  seen  my 
friend  the  Duke  of  Chartres  again,  things  may  take 
a  turn." 

"He  can  do  much  for  you,"  answered  Franklin. 
"  I  have  been  told  that  he  speaks  of  you  everywhere 
with  respect  and  affection.  These  things  count  like 
solid  gold  with  the  indifferent  populace,  ready  to  take 
either  side  of  a  great  question." 

"I  feel  sure,  sir,  that  the  blow  must  be  struck 
quickly,  if  at  all,"  urged  the  captain.  "  If  nothing  is 
to  be  expected  from  France,  I  must  do  the  best  I  can 
with  the  means  in  my  hand.  I  must  make  some  use 
of  the  Kanger ;  we  have  already  lost  far  too  much 
time.  They  hampered  and  delayed  me  in  Portsmouth 
for  month  upon  month,  when  I  might  have  been  effec 
tive  here." 

"  When  you  are  as  old  as  I,  Captain  Paul  Jones, 
you  will  have  learned  that  delays  appear  sometimes  to 
be  the  work  of  those  who  are  wiser  than  we.  If  life 
has  anything  to  teach  us,  it  is  patience ;  but  patience 
is  the  hardest  thing  to  teach  those  men  who  have 
the  makings  of  a  hero  in  their  breasts."  And  again 
he  fell  into  expectant  silence,  and  sat  behind  his  table 
looking  straight  at  the  captain.  Wallingford's  heart 
was  touched  by  a  recognition  of  Paul  Jones's  charac 
ter,  which  had  been  so  simply  spoken ;  but  that  man 
of  power  and  action  took  no  notice  himself,  except  to 


THE  GREAT  COMMISSIONER  195 

put  on  a  still  more  eager  look,  and  shift  his  footing  as 
he  stood,  doing  honor  from  his  heart  to  Mr.  Franklin. 

"  Will  you  not  sit,  captain  ?  We  have  much  talk 
before  us.  It  astonishes  me  that  you  should  have 
gained  so  warm  a  love  for  your  adopted  country,"  said 
the  Commissioner. 

"  I  have  to  confess  that  England  has  been  to  me 
but  a  cruel  stepmother.  I  loved  her  and  tried  to  serve 
her,  boy  and  man,"  answered  the  other.  "  When  I 
went  to  live  in  Virginia,  I  learned  to  love  my  new 
country  as  a  lover  loves  his  mistress.  God  forgive  me 
if  I  have  sometimes  been  rash  in  my  service,  but 
Glory  has  always  shone  like  a  star  in  my  sky,  and  in 
America  a  man  is  sure  of  a  future  if  it  is  in  his  own 
breast  to  make  one.  At  home  everything  is  fixed ; 
there  are  walls  that  none  but  the  very  greatest  have 
ever  climbed.  Glory  is  all  my  dream ;  there  is  no 
holding  back  in  me  when  I  think  of  it ;  my  poor  goods 
and  my  poor  life  are  only  for  it.  Help  me,  sir,  help 
me  to  get  my  opportunity.  You  shall  see  that  I  am  at 
heart  a  true  American,  and  that  I  know  my  business 
as  a  sailor.  Do  not  join  with  those  who,  with  petty 
quibbles  and  excuses,  would  hold  me  back  !  " 

The  passion  of  Paul  Jones,  the  fire  and  manly  beauty 
in  his  face,  his  look  of  high  spirit,  would  have  moved 
two  duller  hearts  than  belonged  to  his  listeners.  Mr. 
Franklin  still  sat  there  with  his  calm  old  face,  and  a 
look  of  pleasant  acceptance  in  his  eyes. 

"  Yes,  you  are  willing  to  go  forward ;  the  feet  of 
young  men  are  ever  set  toward  danger,"  he  said.  "  I 
repeat  that  we  must  sometimes  be  heroes  at  waiting. 
To  your  faith  you  must  add  patience.  Your  life  of 
effort,  like  mine,  must  teach  you  that,  but  I  have  had 
longer  to  learn  the  lesson.  I  shall  do  all  that  I  can 


196  THE  TORY  LOVER 

for  you.  I  respect  your  present  difficulties,  but  we 
have  to  live  in  the  world  as  it  is :  we  cannot  refashion 
the  world ;  our  task  is  with  ourselves." 

"  Quel  plaisir !  "  said  the  little  captain  bitterly, 
under  his  breath. 

The  pleasant  French  room,  with  its  long  windows 
set  open  to  the  formal  garden,  was  so  silent  for  a  time 
that  at  last  all  three  of  the  men  were  startled  by  a 
footstep  coming  out  of  the  distance  toward  them,  along 
the  loose  pebbles  of  the  garden  walk.  They  could  not 
help  the  feeling  that  a  messenger  was  coming  from 
the  world  outside ;  but  as  the  sound  approached  the 
window  they  recognized  the  easy  clack  of  a  pair  of 
wooden  shoes,  and  the  young  gardener  who  wore  them 
began  to  sing  a  gay  little  French  song.  Captain  Paul 
Jones  moved  impatiently,  but  Mr.  Franklin  had  taken 
the  time  for  thought. 

"  My  friend  Mr.  David  Hartley,  a  member  of  Par 
liament,  who  has  been  my  willing  agent  in  what 
attempts  could  be  made  to  succor  our  prisoned  sail 
ors,  begs  me  to  have  patience,"  he  said  reflectively. 
"  He  still  thinks  that  nothing  should  persuade  America 
to  throw  herself  into  the  arms  of  France ;  for  times 
are  sure  to  mend,  and  an  American  must  always  be  a 
stranger  in  France,  while  Great  Britain  will  be  our 
natural  home  for  ages  to  come.  But  I  recalled  to  him, 
in  my  answer,  the  fact  that  his  nation  is  hiring  all  the 
cutthroats  it  can  collect,  of  all  countries  and  colors, 
to  destroy  us.  It  would  be  hard  to  persuade  us  not  to 
ask  or  accept  aid  from  any  power  that  may  be  pre 
vailed  with  to  grant  it,  for  the  reason  that,  though  we 
are  now  put  to  the  sword,  we  may  at  some  future  time 
be  treated  kindly ! 

"  This  expects  too  much  patience  of  us  altogether," 


THE  GREAT  COMMISSIONER  197 

he  continued.  "  Americans  have  been  treated  with 
cordiality  and  affectionate  respect  here  in  France,  as 
they  have  not  been  in  England  when  they  most  de 
served  it.  Now  that  the  English  are  exasperated 
against  us  we  have  become  odious  as  well  as  contempt 
ible,  and  we  cannot  expect  a  better  treatment  for  a 
long  time  to  come.  I  do  not  see  why  we  may  not, 
upon  an  alliance,  hope  for  a  steady  friendship  with 
France.  She  has  been  faithful  to  little  Switzerland 
these  two  hundred  years  !  " 

"  I  cannot  find  it  in  my  heart  to  think  that  our 
friendship  with  our  mother  country  is  forever  broken," 
urged  Wallingford,  speaking  with  anxious  solicitude. 
"  The  bond  is  too  close  between  us.  It  is  like  the 
troubles  that  break  the  happiness  of  a  family  in  a  day 
of  bad  weather  ;  it  is  but  a  quarrel  or  fit  of  the  sulks, 
and  when  past,  the  love  that  is  born  in  our  hearts 
must  still  hold  us  together." 

"  You  speak  truly,  my  young  friend,"  said  the  old 
Commissioner ;  "  but  we  have  to  remember  that  the 
lives  of  nations  are  of  larger  scope,  and  that  the  pro 
cesses  of  change  are  of  long  duration.  I  think  that 
it  may  be  a  century  before  the  old  sense  of  dependence 
and  affection  can  return,  and  England  and  America 
again  put  their  arms  about  each  other." 

Paul  Jones  fretted  in  his  gilded  chair.  The  carved 
crest  of  Monsieur  de  Chaumont  was  sharp  against  his 
back,  and  the  conversation  was  becoming  much  too 
general. 

"  Our  country  is  like  a  boy  hardly  come  to  man 
hood  yet,  who  is  at  every  moment  afraid  that  he  will 
not  be  taken  for  a  man  of  forty  years,"  said  Mr. 
Franklin,  smiling.  "  We  have  all  the  faults  of  youth, 
but,  thank  God,  the  faults  of  a  young  country  are 


198  THE  TORY  LOVER 

better  than  the  faults  of  an  old  one.  It  is  the  young 
heart  that  takes  the  forward  step.  The  day  comes 
when  England  will  love  us  all  the  better  for  what  we 
are  doing,  but  it  provokes  the  mother  country  now, 
and  grieves  the  child.  If  I  read  their  hearts  aright, 
there  have  been  those  who  thought  the  mother  most 
deeply  hurt,  and  the  child  most  angry.  You  will  have 
seen  much  of  the  Loyalists,  Mr.  Wallingford,  if  I 
mistake  not  ?  " 

Wallingford  colored  with  boyish  confusion.  "  It 
would  seem  most  natural,  sir,  if  you  take  my  mother's 
connection  into  account,"  he  answered  honestly.  "  She 
and  her  family  are  among  those  who  have  been  sure 
of  England's  distress  at  our  behavior.  She  is  of  those 
who  inherit  the  deepest  sentiments  of  affection  toward 
the  Crown." 

"  And  you  have  been  her  antagonist  ?  " 

The  question  was  kindly  put,  but  it  came  straight 
as  an  arrow,  and  with  such  force  that  Paul  Jones  for 
got  his  own  burning  anxiety  for  the  French  frigate, 
and  turned  to  hear  Wallingford's  answer.  All  his 
natural  jealousy  of  a  rival  in  love,  and  deep-hidden 
suspicion  of  a  man  who  had  openly  confessed  himself 
a  conservative,  were  again  roused. 

"  I  have  taken  oath,  and  I  wear  the  uniform  of 
our  American  navy,  sir,"  replied  Wallingford  quietly. 
"  My  father  taught  me  that  a  gentleman  should  stand 
by  his  word.  I  was  not  among  those  who  wished  to 
hasten  so  sad  a  war,  and  I  believe  that  our  victory 
must  be  the  long  defeat  of  our  prosperity ;  but  since 
there  is  war  and  we  have  become  independent,  my 
country  has  a  right  to  claim  my  service.  The  captain 
knows  the  circumstances  which  brought  me  here,  and 
I  thank  him  for  giving  ine  his  confidence."  The 


THE  GREAT  COMMISSIONER  199 

young  man  blushed  like  a  girl,  but  Captain  Paul 
Jones  smiled  and  said  nothing. 

"You  have  spoken  like  your  father's  son, — and 
like  the  son  of  Madam  Wallingford,"  added  Mr. 
Franklin.  "  I  must  say  that  I  honor  your  behavior. 
I  trust  that  your  high  principle  may  never  fail  you, 
my  young  friend,  but  you  are  putting  it  to  greater 
strain  than  if  you  stood  among  the  Patriots,  who  can 
see  but  one  side."  The  sage  old  man  looked  at  the 
lieutenant  with  a  mild  benevolence  and  approval  that 
were  staying  to  the  heart.  Then  a  shrewd,  quick 
smile  lighted  his  eyes  again. 

"You  should  be  one  of  the  knights  of  old  come  out 
on  his  lady's  quest,"  said  Mr.  Benjamin  Franklin; 
and  the  young  man,  who  might  have  blushed  again 
and  been  annoyed  at  the  jest,  only  smiled  back  as  he 
might  have  smiled  at  his  own  father,  whose  look  had 
sometimes  been  as  kind,  as  wise  and  masterful,  as  this 
of  the  old  Commissioner. 

Captain  Paul  Jones  was  in  no  mind  that  this  hour 
should  be  wasted,  even  though  it  was  a  pleasant  thing 
to  see  an  old  man  and  a  young  one  so  happily  at  home 
together.  He  wished  to  speak  again  for  himself,  and 
now  rose  with  a  formal  air. 

"  Sir,  I  pray  you  not  to  condemn  me  without  hear 
ing  me.  I  have  my  enemies,  as  you  have  come  to 
know.  I  am  convinced  that  at  least  one  of  Mr.  Lee's 
secretaries  is  a  British  spy.  I  do  not  blame  England 
for  watching  us,  but  I  accuse  Mr.  Lee.  If  his  fault 
is  ignorance,  he  is  still  guilty.  I  desire  also  to  lay 
before  you  my  plans  for  a  cruise  with  the  Ranger." 

Mr.  Roger  Wallingford  left  his  own  chair  with  sud 
den  impulse,  and  stood  beside  his  captain.  He  was  a 
head  taller  and  a  shoulder-breadth  broader,  with  the 


200  THE  TOEY  LOVER 

look  of  an  old-fashioned  English  country  gentleman, 
in  spite  of  his  gold  lace  and  red  waistcoat  and  the 
cocked  hat  of  a  lieutenant  of  marines. 

"  I  have  already  reminded  you,  sir,  and  the  other 
honorable  Commissioners,"  the  captain  continued, 
speaking  quickly,  "  that  I  have  the  promise  of  a  better 
ship  than  the  Ranger,  and  that  my  opportunities  of 
serving  the  Congress  must  wait  in  great  measure  upon 
the  event  of  that  promise  being  fulfilled.  I  have  also 
to  make  formal  complaint  of  the  misdemeanors  of 
some  members  of  my  present  crew.  I  have  fixed  upon 
the  necessity  of  this,  and  the  even  greater  necessity 
for  money,  as  our  men  lack  clothes,  and  we  are  run 
ning  short  in  every  way.  Our  men  are  clamorous  for 
their  pay ;  I  have  advanced  them  a  large  sum  on  my 
own  account.  And  we  are  already  short  of  men ;  we 
must  soon  take  action  in  regard  to  the  exchange  of 
prisoners  toward  this  end." 

"  Wait  a  few  moments,  Captain,"  said  the  Commis 
sioner.  "  Mr.  Deane  and  Mr.  Adams  should  listen  to 
your  reasonable  requests  and  discuss  these  projects. 
With  your  permission,  we  can  dispense  with  the 
advice  of  Mr.  Lee.  I  have  here  under  consideration 
some  important  plans  of  the  French  Minister  of 
Marine." 

There  was  a  happy  consciousness  in  the  hearts  of 
both  the  younger  men  that  they  had  passed  a  severe 
examination  not  wholly  without  credit,  and  that  the 
old  Commissioner  would  stand  their  friend.  There 
were  still  a  few  minutes  of  delay ;  and  while  the 
captain  hastily  reviewed  his  own  thick  budget  of 
papers,  Wallingford  glanced  often  at  Mr.  Franklin's 
worn  face  and  heavy  figure,  remembering  that  he  had 
lately  said  that  his  life  was  now  at  its  fag-end,  and 


THE  GREAT  COMMISSIONER  201 

might  be  used  and  taken  for  what  it  was  worth.  All 
the  weight  of  present  cares  and  all  the  weariness  of 
age  could  not  forbid  the  habit  of  kindly  patience  and 
large  wisdom  which  belonged  to  this  very  great  man. 

"  You  are  a  dumb  gentleman  !  "  exclaimed  the  cap 
tain  as  they  came  away.  "  You  sat  there,  most  of  the 
time,  like  an  elder  of  the  kirk,  but  you  and  Mr. 
Franklin  seemed  to  understand  each  other  all  the 
better.  The  higher  a  man  gets,  the  less  he  needs  of 
speech.  My  Lord  Selkirk  and  his  mates  and  my 
dear  Duke  of  Chartres,  they  do  it  all  with  a  nod  and 
a  single  word,  but  poor  folks  may  chatter  the  day 
through.  I  was  not  so  garrulous  myself  to-day?" 
he  said,  appealing  for  approval;  and  Wallingford, 
touched  by  such  humility,  hastened  to  assure  him  that 
the  business  of  the  Ranger  had  been,  in  his  opinion, 
most  handsomely  conducted.  The  captain's  fiery  tem 
per  might  well  have  mounted  its  war  chariot  at  certain 
junctures. 

"  Listen !  "  said  Paul  Jones,  as  they  climbed  the 
long  slopes  toward  Paris  and  their  good  horses  settled 
into  a  steady  gait.  "  I  have  often  been  uncertain  of 
you  since  we  came  to  sea ;  yet  I  must  have  a  solid 
knowledge  that  you  are  right  at  heart,  else  I  could 
not  have  had  you  with  me  to-day.  But  you  have  been 
so  vexingly  dumb  ;  you  won't  speak  out,  you  don't 
concern  yourself  !  "  and  the  captain  swore  gently  under 
his  breath. 

Wallingford  felt  a  touch  of  hot  rage;  then  he 
laughed  easily.  "  Poor  Dickson  will  be  disappointed 
if  I  do  not  prove  a  spy  in  the  end,"  he  said.  "  Look, 
captain  ;  Mr.  Franklin  gave  me  these  letters.  The 
packet  came  for  us  by  the  last  ship." 


202  THE  TORY  LOVER 

The  lieutenant  had  already  found  time  to  take  a 
hasty  look  at  two  letters  of  his  own  ;  his  young  heart 
was  beating  fast  against  them  at  that  moment.  His 
mother's  prim  and  delicate  handwriting  was  like  a 
glimpse  of  her  face ;  and  he  had  seen  that  Mary 
Hamilton  had  also  written  him  in  the  old  friendly, 
affectionate  way,  with  complete  unconsciousness  of 
those  doubts  and  shadows  which  so  shamed  his  own 
remembrance. 


XXIII 

THE   SALUTE   TO   THE   FLAG 

"  Nor  deem  that  acts  heroic  wait  on  chance, 

The  man's  whole  life  preludes  the  single  deed 

That  shall  decide  if  his  inheritance 
Be  with  the  sifted  few  of  matchless  breed." 

IN  midwinter  something  happened  that  lifted  every 
true  heart  on  board.  There  had  been  dull  and  dreary 
weeks  on  board  the  Ranger,  with  plots  for  desertion 
among  the  crew,  and  a  general  look  of  surliness  and 
reproach  on  all  faces.  The  captain  was  eagerly  im 
patient  in  sending  his  messengers  to  Nantes  when  the 
Paris  post  might  be  expected,  and  was  ever  disap 
pointed  at  their  return.  The  discipline  of  the  ship 
became  more  strict  than  before,  now  that  there  was 
little  else  to  command  or  insist  upon.  The  officers 
grew  tired  of  one  another's  company,  and  kept  to 
their  own  quarters,  or  passed  each  other  without 
speaking.  It  was  easy,  indeed,  to  be  displeased  with 
such  a  situation,  and  to  fret  at  such  an  apparently 
needless  loss  of  time,  even  if  there  were  nothing  else 
to  fret  about. 

At  last  there  was  some  comfort  in  leaving  Nantes, 
and  making  even  so  short  a  voyage  as  to  the  neighbor 
ing  Breton  port  of  L' Orient,  where  the  Ranger  was 
overhauled  and  refitted  for  sea;  yet  even 'here  the 
men  grumbled  at  their  temporary  discomforts,  and 


204  THE  TORY  LOVER 

above  all  regretted  Nantes,  where  they  could  amuse 
themselves  better  ashore.  It  was  a  hard,  stormy 
winter,  but  there  were  plenty  of  rich  English  ships 
almost  within  hand's  reach.  Nobody  could  well  under 
stand  why  they  had  done  nothing,  while  such  easy 
prey  came  and  went  in  those  waters,  from  Bordeaux 
and  the  coast  of  Spain,  even  from  Nantes  itself. 

On  a  certain  Friday  orders  were  given  to  set  sail, 
and  the  Kanger  made  her  way  along  the  coast  to 
Quiberon,  and  anchored  there  at  sunset,  before  the 
bay's  entrance,  facing  the  great  curve  of  the  shores. 
She  had  much  shipping  for  company :  farther  in  there 
lay  a  fine  show  of  French  frigates  with  a  convoy,  and 
four  ships  of  the  line.  The  captain  scanned  these 
through  his  glass,  and  welcomed  a  great  opportunity : 
he  had  come  upon  a  division  of  the  French  navy,  and 
one  of  the  frigates  flew  the  flag  of  a  rear  admiral,  La 
Motte  Pique. 

The  wind  had  not  fallen  at  sundown.  All  night 
the  Ranger  tossed  about  and  tugged  at  her  anchor 
chains,  as  if  she  were  impatient  to  continue  her  ad 
ventures,  like  the  men  between  her  sides.  All  the 
next  day  she  rode  uneasily,  and  clapped  her  sailcloth 
and  thrummed  her  rigging  in  the  squally  winter  blast, 
until  the  sea  grew  quieter  toward  sundown.  Then 
Captain  Paul  Jones  sent  a  boat  to  the  King's  fleet  to 
carry  a  letter. 

The  boat  was  long  gone.  The  distance  was  little, 
but  difficult  in  such  a  sea,  yet  some  of  the  boats  of 
the  country  came  out  in  hope  of  trading  with  the 
Ranger's  men.  The  poor  peasants  would  venture 
anything,  and  a  strange-looking,  swarthy  little  man 
who  got  aboard  nobody  knew  how,  suddenly  ap 
proached  the  captain  where  he  stood,  ablaze  with  im- 


THE  SALUTE  TO  THE  FLAG  205 

patience,  on  the  quarter.  At  his  first  word  Paul 
Jones  burst  with  startling  readiness  into  Spanish  in 
vective,  and  then,  with  a  look  of  pity  at  the  man's 
poverty  of  dress  in  that  icy  weather,  took  a  bit  of 
gold  from  his  pocket.  "  Barcelona  ?  "  said  he.  "  I 
have  had  good  days  in  Barcelona,  myself,"  and  bade 
the  Spaniard  begone.  Then  he  called  him  back  and 
asked  a  few  questions,  and,  summoning  a  quartermas 
ter,  gave  orders  that  he  should  take  the  sailor's  poor 
gear,  and  give  him  a  warm  coat  and  cap  from  the  slop 
chests. 

"  He  has  lost  his  ship,  and  got  stranded  here,"  said 
the  captain,  with  compassion,  and  then  turned  again 
to  watch  for  the  boat.  "  You  may  roll  the  coat  and 
cap  into  a  bundle  ;  they  are  quaint-fashioned  things," 
he  added  carelessly,  as  the  quartermaster  went  away. 

The  bay  was  now  alive  with  small  Breton  traders, 
and  at  a  short  distance  away  there  was  a  droll  little 
potato  fleet  making  hopefully  for  the  Kanger.  The 
headmost  boat,  however,  was  the  Eanger's  own,  with 
an  answer  to  the  captain's  letter.  He  gave  an  anxious 
sigh  and  laid  down  his  glass.  He  had  sent  to  say 
frankly  to  the  rear  admiral  that  he  flew  the  new 
American  flag,  and  that  no  foreign  power  had  yet 
saluted  it,  and  to  ask  if  his  own  salute  to  the  Royal 
Navy  of  France  would  be  properly  returned.  It  was 
already  in  the  last  fluster  of  the  February  wind,  and 
the  sea  was  going  down ;  there  was  no  time  to  be  lost. 
He  broke  the  great  seal  of  his  answer  with  a  trem 
bling  hand,  and  at  the  first  glance  pressed  the  letter 
to  his  breast. 

The  French  frigates  were  a  little  apart  from  their 
convoy,  and  rolled  sullenly  in  a  solemn  company, 
their  tall  masts  swaying  like  time-keepers  against  the 


206  THE  TORY  LOVER 

pale  winter  sky.  The  low  land  lay  behind  them,  its 
line  broken  here  and  there  by  strange  mounds,  and  by 
ancient  altars  of  the  druids,  like  clumsy,  heavy-legged 
beasts  standing  against  the  winter  sunset.  The  cap 
tain  gave  orders  to  hoist  the  anchor,  nobody  knew 
why,  and  to  spread  the  sails,  when  it  was  no  time  to 
put  to  sea.  He  stood  like  a  king  until  all  was  done, 
and  then  passed  the  word  for  his  gunners  to  be  ready, 
and  steered  straight  in  toward  the  French  fleet. 

They  all  understood  now.  The  little  Ranger  ran 
slowly  between  the  frowning  ships,  looking  as  warlike 
as  they  ;  her  men  swarmed  like  bees  into  the  rigging ; 
her  colors  ran  up  to  salute  the  flag  of  his  most  Chris 
tian  Majesty  of  France,  and  she  fired  one  by  one  her 
salute  of  thirteen  guns. 

There  was  a  moment  of  suspense.  The  wind  was 
very  light  now ;  the  powder  smoke  drifted  away,  and 
the  flapping  sails  sounded  loud  overhead.  Would  the 
admiral  answer,  or  would  he  treat  this  bold  challenge 
like  a  handkerchief  waved  at  him  from  a  pleasure 
boat  ?  Some  of  the  officers  on  the  Ranger  looked  in 
credulous,  but  Paul  Jones  still  held  his  letter  in  his 
hand.  There  was  a  puff  of  white  smoke,  and  the 
great  guns  of  the  French  flagship  began  to  shake  the 
air,  —  one,  two,  three,  four,  five,  six,  seven,  eight, 
nine  ;  and  then  were  still,  save  for  their  echoes  from 
the  low  hills  about  Carnac  and  the  great  druid  mount 
of  St.  Michael. 

"  Gardner,  you  may  tell  the  men  that  this  was  the 
salute  of  the  King  of  France  to  our  Republic,  and 
the  first  high  honor  to  our  colors,"  said  the  captain 
proudly  to  his  steersman.  But  they  were  all  huzzaing 
now  along  the  Ranger's  decks,  —  that  little  ship 
whose  name  shall  never  be  forgotten  while  her  coun 
try  lives. 


THE  SALUTE  TO  THE  FLAG       207 

"  We  hardly  know  what  this  day  means,  gen 
tlemen,"  he  said  soberly  to  his  officers,  who  came 
about  him.  "  I  believe  we  are  at  the  christening 
of  the  greatest  nation  that  was  ever  born  into  the 
world." 

The  captain  lifted  his  hat,  and  stood  looking  up  at 
the  Flag. 


XXIV 

WHITEHAVEN 

"  The  only  happiness  a  man  ought  to  ask  for  is  happiness  enough  to 
get  his  work  done." 

EARLY  in  April  the  Kanger  was  still  waiting  to  put 
to  sea.  She  had  been  made  ready  and  trained  for 
action  like  a  single  gun,  in  her  long  weeks  at  Brest. 
The  captain  had  gone  away  on  a  mysterious  errand, 
afterward  reported  to  be  a  visit  to  Amsterdam  di 
rected  by  Mr.  Franklin,  who  wished  for  information 
regarding  the  affairs  of  the  Commissioners  and  the 
loss  of  their  frigate.  Paul  Jones  carried  with  him 
the  poor  dress  of  that  Spanish  seaman  who  had 
boarded  him  at  Quiberon,  and  made  good  use  of  the 
Basque  cap  and  his  own  sufficient  knowledge  of  the 
Spanish  language.  To  Wallingf  ord  only  he  gave  any 
news  of  the  journey,  and  it  was  only  Wallingf  ord 
whom  he  made  his  constant  companion  in  frequent 
visits  to  the  Duke  of  Chartres  and  his  duchess,  at 
their  country  house  near  the  city. 

The  Sailor  Prince  had  welcomed  this  American 
captain  and  friend  with  all  the  affection  with  which 
he  had  said  farewell  in  Virginia,  and  hastened  to 
present  him  to  his  wife,  who  was  not  only  one  of  the 
most  charming  of  French  ladies,  and  a  great-grand 
daughter  of  Louis  Quatorze,  but  granddaughter  of 
the  great  Count  of  Toulouse,  that  sailor  son  of  the 


WHITEHAVEN  209 

King,  who  had  won  the  famous  sea  fight  off  Malaga 
against  the  Dutch  and  English  fleets,  seventy  years 
before.  The  beautiful  duchess  was  quick  to  recognize 
a  hero.  She  was  most  proud  of  her  seafaring  ances 
tor,  and  listened  with  delight  to  Paul  Jones  as  he 
spoke  with  some  French  officers  of  the  Malaga  vic 
tory,  and  showed  his  perfect  acquaintance  with  its 
strategy.  She  found  him  handsome,  spirited,  and 
full  of  great  qualities,  and  at  once  gave  her  warmest 
friendship  to  him  and  to  his  cause. 

All  the  degrading  side  of  a  sailor's  life  and  hard 
ships,  all  the  distresses  that  Paul  Jones  and  Koger 
Wallingford  had  known  on  board  the  Ranger,  faded 
away  like  bad  dreams  when  they  stood  in  her  presence. 
They  were  both  true  gentlemen  at  heart ;  they  were 
also  servants  of  their  own  country  in  France ;  and 
now  every  door  flew  open  before  their  wishes ;  the 
future  seemed  but  one  long  triumph  and  delight. 
Paul  Jones,  the  poor  Scottish  lad  who  had  steadily 
followed  his  splendid  vision,  had  come  at  last  very 
near  to  its  reality,  and  to  the  true  joys  of  an  unfail 
ing  friendship. 

The  Eanger  sailed  out  of  Brest  on  the  10th  of 
April.  There  had  been  an  attempt  at  mutiny  on 
board,  but  the  captain  had  quelled  that,  and  mastered 
the  deep-laid  plot  behind  it.  Once  at  sea,  everything 
seemed  to  be  at  rights  again,  since  the  ship  was  head 
ing  toward  the  English  coast.  The  captain  was  silent 
now,  as  if  always  brooding  upon  great  affairs,  and 
appeared  to  have  fallen  into  a  calm  state  of  self-pos 
session;  his  eyes  looked  unconscious  of  whatever 
minor  objects  were  reflected  in  their  quick  mirrors. 
All  his  irascibility  was  for  the  moment  gone  ;  his  face 


210  THE  TORY  LOVER 

was  thoughtful  and  even  melancholy,  with  a  look  as 
if  at  last  he  possessed  some  secret  happiness  and  as 
surance.  Glory  herself  had  become  strangely  identi 
fied  with  a  beautiful  French  princess,  and  he  had 
made  a  vow  to  high  Heaven  that  he  would  some  day 
lay  an  English  frigate  at  her  feet,  and  show  himself 
worthy  of  her  confidence  and  most  inspiriting  sym 
pathy.  The  captain  had  spoken  to  her  of  all  his  hard 
and  hopeful  life  as  he  had  never  spoken  to  any  one ; 
she  even  knew  the  story  of  Wallingford,  and  their  re 
lations  to  Mary  Hamilton  and  to  each  other.  The 
Duchess  of  Chartres  had  listened  eagerly,  and  next  day 
said  a  word  to  the  lieutenant  that  made  his  young 
heart  fairly  quiver  at  such  exquisite  understanding  ;  to 
the  captain  she  had  spoken  only  of  Glory  as  they  both 
understood  it,  and  of  a  hero's  task  and  sacrifice. 

The  Eanger  headed  past  the  Channel  and  into  the 
Irish  Sea.  At  last  she  stood  over  from  the  Isle  of 
Man  until  the  shores  of  England  were  close  at  hand, 
behind  a  shifting  veil  of  fog,  and  even  those  among 
the  Ranger's  crew  whose  best  dreams  were  of  prizes 
were  not  unsatisfied  with  their  prospects.  "When  the 
gusty  wind  beat  back  the  fog,  they  could  see  the  moun 
tains  of  Cumberland ;  and  the  shapes  of  those  solid 
heights  looked  well  to  the  eye,  after  the  low  lines  of 
the  French  coast  they  had  left  behind.  They  passed 
St.  Bees  Head,  keeping  well  at  sea ;  and  the  captain 
did  some  petty  trading  with  poor  fishermen,  to  learn 
how  things  stood  now  at  Whitehaven,  and  whether 
there  might  be  frigates  in  those  waters,  or  any  foe  too 
great  for  so  bold  a  venturer.  They  were  beating 
against  the  easterly  winds,  and  steadily  nearing  the 
shore.  They  could  see  no  large-looking  ships  when 
the  fog  lifted,  though  it  was  a  region  where  much  ship- 


WHITEHAVEN  211 

ping  went  and  came.  There  was  possible  danger  of 
alarm,  and  that  their  sailing  from  Brest  had  been  her 
alded  by  treachery.  The  captain  was  alive  in  every 
nerve,  and  held  himself  steady,  like  a  tiger  in  the  night, 
whose  best  weapons  must  be  speed  and  silence. 

Wallingford  stood  long  on  deck  in  the  late  after 
noon,  leaning  against  the  gun  in  his  wonted  place,  and 
troubled  by  the  persistent  reluctance  of  his  heart. 
These  were  the  shores  of  England,  and  he  was  bound 
to  do  them  harm.  He  was  not  the  first  man  who 
found  it  hard  to  fight  against  the  old  familiar  flag 
which  a  few  months  earlier  had  been  his  own.  He 
had  once  spent  a  few  months  in  the  old  country,  after 
his  college  course  had  ended,  —  a  boy  of  eighteen, 
who  looked  on  at  life  admiringly,  as  if  it  were  a  play. 
He  had  been  happy  enough  in  London  then,  and 
in  some  country  houses,  where  old  family  friends  of 
both  his  father  and  his  mother  had  shown  him 
much  kindness,  and  the  days  had  gone  by  not  so 
unlike  the  fashion  of  life  at  home.  The  merchants 
and  gentlefolk  of  New  England  had  long  been  rich 
enough  to  live  at  ease,  and  Boston  and  Portsmouth, 
with  Salem  and  the  harbor  towns  between,  were  them 
selves  but  tiny  London s  in  those  happier  days  be 
fore  the  war.  Each  had  a  few  men  of  learning  and 
women  of  the  world,  and  were  small  satellites  that 
borrowed  their  lesser  light  from  a  central  sun.  Wal 
lingford  knew  enough  of  the  solid  force  and  dignity 
of  England  to  wince  at  the  ignorant  talk  of  the  crew 
about  so  formidable  an  enemy,  and  again  his  heart 
grew  heavy  with  regret  that  this  mother  and  child 
among  the  nations  had  been  so  rashly  drawn  into  the 
cruelties  of  war.  The  King  and  those  who  flattered 
him  were  wrong  enough,  God  forgive  them !  But  the 


212  THE  TORY  LOVER 

great  Earl  of  Chatham,  and  Mr.  Fox,  and  many 
another  man  of  authority  and  power  had  stood  for  the 
colonies.  For  a  moment  this  heavy  young  heart  grew 
even  heavier  with  the  thought  of  being  the  accomplice 
of  France  in  such  a  short-sighted  business,  but  next 
moment  Wallingford  angrily  shook  himself  free  from 
such  fears  as  these.  They  were  the  thoughts  that 
had  been  born  in  him,  not  his  own  determination :  he 
had  come  to  fight  for  the  colonies,  and  would  trample 
down  both  his  fears  and  his  opinions  once  for  all  on 
the  Ranger's  deck.  The  lieutenant  looked  down  at 
the  solid  deck  planks  where  he  stood,  —  they  had 
grown  out  of  the  honest  ground  of  his  own  neighbor 
hood  ;  he  had  come  to  love  his  duty,  after  all,  and  even 
to  love  his  ship.  Up  went  his  head  again,  and  his 
heart  was  once  more  hot  within  him ;  the  only  ques 
tion  now  was,  what  did  the  captain  mean  to  do  ? 

The  light  began  to  fade,  and  evening  to  fall.  The 
men  were  heaving  the  lead,  and  the  captain  watched 
them,  listening  anxiously  as  they  told  their  soundings 
with  the  practiced  drawl  and  quaint  phrases  that  old 
seamen  use.  They  could  now  and  then  catch  a  glimpse 
of  small  houses  on  the  shore.  The  ship  was  evidently 
in  shoal  water,  and  the  fog  lifted  and  parted  and 
thickened  again,  as  if  a  skyful  of  clouds  had  dropped 
upon  the  sea. 

Presently  the  word  was  passed  to  let  go  the  anchor ; 
and  the  storm  of  oaths  and  exclamations  which  this 
involved,  owing  to  some  unexpected  hindrance,  grew 
so  tiresome  to  the  lieutenant  that  he  left  the  place 
where  he  had  been  standing,  to  go  below  again. 

"  Look,  look,  mon  ami !  "  urged  the  captain  eagerly  ; 
and  Wallingford  turned  to  see  that  the  fog  had  driven 
away,  while  Paul  Jones  pointed  toward  a  large  town, 


WHITEIIAVEN  213 

and  a  forest  of  vessels  lying  in  the  bay  before  it,  —  a 
huge  flock  of  shipping  for  such  a  port.  The  Irish  Sea 
had  emptied  itself  into  Whitehaven,  and  the  wind  had 
gone  down ;  not  a  sloop  or  a  snow,  and  not  a  little 
brig  in  a  hurry,  could  put  to  sea  again  that  April 
night. 

"Tis  old  Whitehaven,"  said  Paul  Jones.  "Now 
I  '11  show  them  that  they  have  made  an  enemy  !  Now 
they  '11  know  we  are  to  be  feared,  not  laughed  at !  I  '11 
put  an  end  to  all  their  burnings  in  America.  I  '11 
harry  their  own  coasts  now,  and  frighten  them  back 
into  their  hills  before  I  'm  done.  I  '11  sweep  them  off 
their  own  seas  !  My  chance  is  in  my  hand !  " 

Dickson  presented  himself  at  this  moment.  The 
captain  would  not  have  had  him  listening,  and  turned 
upon  him  angrily  to  hear  what  he  had  to  say. 

"  Thick  as  coasters  in  Portsmouth  lower  harbor  in 
a  northeast  blow,"  commented  the  unwelcome  officer, 
"  but  that 's  no  such  handsome  town  as  ours." 

"  'T  is  a  town  of  three  hundred  ships,  mostly  in  the 
coal  trade,  and  ranks  close  to  Newcastle  in  North 
umberland  ;  'tis  a  town  large  enough  to  be  charged 
with  six  hundred  men  for  his  Majesty's  navy,"  and 
the  captain  scowled.  "  We  need  not  take  it  for  a 
poor  fishing  village  till  we  have  seen  it  better.  A 
more  uncertain  coast,  from  the  shifting  sands,  I  do 
not  remember  to  have  known ;  but  I  can  keep  the 
main  channels  well  enough  through  long  acquain 
tance,"  he  added,  in  a  lower  voice.  "  Now  we  are  out 
of  this  dungeon  of  fog,  thank  God,  and  I  shall  creep 
in  still  and  steady  as  a  snail  when  I  get  ready." 

They  could  see  the  gleam  of  white  cliffs  now,  as  the 
fog  rolled  up  the  hills. 

"'Tis  full  of  poor   miners  there,  burrowing   like 


214  THE   TORY  LOVER 

moles  in  the  dark  earth,"  said  the  captain  pityingly, 
—  "a  wretched  life  for  a  Christian !  "  Then  he  went 
to  his  cabin,  and  called  his  officers  about  him,  and 
gave  orders  for  the  night's  work. 

"  I  loved  Britain  as  a  man  may  only  love  his  mother 
country ;  but  I  was  misjudged,  and  treated  with  such 
bitter  harshness  and  contempt  in  my  younger  days 
that  I  renounced  my  very  birthright !  "  said  Paul 
Jones,  turning  to  Wallingford  with  a  strange  impulse 
of  sadness  when  the  other  men  had  gone.  "  I  cannot 
help  it  now  ;  I  have  made  the  break,  and  have  given 
my  whole  allegiance  to  our  new  Republic,  and  all  the 
strength  of  me  shall  count  for  something  in  the  build 
ing  of  her  noble  future.  Therefore  I  fight  her  battles, 
at  whatever  cost  and  on  whatever  soil.  Being  a  sailor, 
I  fight  as  a  sailor,  and  I  am  here  close  to  the  soil  that 
bore  me.  'T  is  against  a  man's  own  heart,  but  I  am 
bent  upon  niy  duty,  though  it  cost  me  dear." 

Wallingf ord  did  not  speak,  —  his  own  reluctance 
was  but  hardly  overcome ;  he  could  not  take  his  e}7es 
off  the  captain,  who  had  grown  unconscious  of  his 
presence.  It  was  a  manly  face  and  bold  look,  but 
when  at  rest  there  was  something  of  sad  patience  in 
the  eyes  and  boyish  mouth,  —  something  that  told  of 
bafflings  and  disappointments  and  bitter  hardness  in  a 
life  that  had  so  breathlessly  climbed  the  steep  ladder 
of  ambition.  The  flashing  fire  of  his  roused  spirit, 
the  look  of  eager  bravery,  were  both  absent  now, 
leaving  in  their  places  something  of  great  distinction, 
but  a  wistfulness  too,  a  look  hungry  for  sympathy,  — 
that  pathetic  look  of  simple  bewilderment  which  some 
times  belongs  to  dreamers  and  enthusiasts  who  do  not 
know  whither  they  are  being  led. 


WHITEHAVEN  215 

The  wind  was  down,  so  that  there  was  no  hope,  as 
at  first,  of  the  Ranger's  running  in  closer  to  the  har 
bor,  with  all  her  fighting  force  and  good  armament  of 
guns.  There  was  still  light  enough  to  see  that  no  man- 
of-war  was  standing  guard  over  so  many  merchantmen. 
The  Ranger  herself  looked  innocent  enough  from 
shore,  on  her  far  anchorage ;  but  when  darkness  fell 
they  hove  up  the  anchor  and  crept  in  a  little  way,  till 
the  tide  turned  to  go  out  and  it  was  too  dangerous 
among  the  shoals.  They  anchored  once  more,  yet  at 
too  great  a  distance.  Hours  of  delay  ran  by,  and 
when  the  boats  were  lowered  at  last  there  was  hin 
drance  still.  Some  preparations  that  the  captain  had 
ordered  were  much  belated,  to  his  great  dismay ; 
discipline  was  of  no  avail ;  they  were  behindhand  in 
starting ;  the  sky  was  clear  of  clouds  now,  and  the 
night  would  be  all  the  shorter. 

The  officers  were  silent,  wrapped  in  their  heavy 
boat  cloaks,  and  the  men  rowed  with  all  the  force  that 
was  in  them.  The  captain  had  the  surgeon  with  him 
in  one  boat,  and  some  midshipmen,  and  the  other  boat 
was  in  charge  of  Lieutenant  Wallingford,  with  Dick- 
son  and  Hall. 

There  were  thirty  picked  seamen,  more  or  less,  in 
the  party ;  the  boats  were  crowded  and  loaded  to  the 
gunwale,  and  they  parted  company  like  thieves  in  the 
night  to  work  their  daring  purposes.  The  old  town 
of  Whitehaven  lay  quiet ;  there  was  already  a  faint 
light  of  coming  dawn  above  the  Cumberland  Hills 
when  they  came  to  the  outer  pier ;  there  was  a  dim 
gleam  of  snow  on  the  heights  under  the  bright  stars, 
and  the  air  was  bitter  cold.  An  old  sea  was  running 
high  after  the  late  storms,  and  the  boats  dragged 
slowly  on  their  errand.  The  captain  grew  fierce  and 


216  THE   TORY  LOVER 

restless,  and  cursed  the  rowers  for  their  slowness ; 
and  the  old  town  of  Whitehaven  and  all  her  shipping 
lay  sound  asleep. 

The  captain's  boat  came  in  first ;  he  gave  his  orders 
with  sure  acquaintance,  and  looked  about  him  eagerly, 
smiling  at  some  ancient-looking  vessels  as  if  they 
were  old  friends,  and  calling  them  by  name.  What 
with  the  stormy  weather  of  the  past  week,  and  an 
alarm  about  some  Yankee  pirates  that  might  be  com 
ing  on  the  coast,  they  had  all  flocked  in  like  sheep, 
and  lay  stranded  now  as  the  tide  left  them.  There 
was  a  loud  barking  of  dogs  from  deck  to  deck,  but  it 
soon  ceased.  Both  the  boats  had  brought  what  freight 
thev  could  stow  of  pitch  and  kindlings,  and  they 
followed  their  orders  ;  the  captain's  boat  going  to  the 
south  side,  and  Wallingford's  to  the  north,  to  set  fires 
among  the  shipping.  There  was  not  a  moment  to  be 
lost. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  harbor,  where  the  captain 
went,  were  the  larger  ships,  many  of  them  merchant 
men  of  three  or  four  hundred  tons  burthen  ;  on  the 
north  side  were  smaller  craft  of  every  sort,  Dutch 
doggers  and  the  humble  coast- wise  crafts  that  made 
the  living  of  a  family,  —  each  poor  fish  boat  furnish 
ing  the  tool  for  a  hard  and  meagre  existence.  On 
few  of  these  was  there  any  riding  light  or  watch  ; 
there  was  mutual  protection  in  such  a  company,  and 
the  harbor  was  like  a  gateless  poultry-yard,  into  which 
the  captain  of  the  Ranger  came  boldly  like  a  fox. 

He  ran  his  boat  ashore  below  the  fort,  and  sent 
most  of  her  crew  to  set  fires  among  the  vessels,  while 
he  mounted  the  walls  with  a  few  followers,  and  found 
the  sentinels  nothing  to  be  feared :  they  were  all 
asleep  in  the  guardhouse,  such  was  the  peace  and 


WHITEHAVEN  217 

prosperity  of  their  lives.  It  was  easy  enough  to  stop 
them  from  giving  alarm,  and  leave  them  fast-bound 
and  gagged,  to  find  the  last  half  of  the  night  longer 
than  the  first  of  it.  A  few  ancient  cannon  were  easily 
spiked,  and  the  captain  ran  like  a  boy  at  Saturday- 
afternoon  bird-nesting  to  the  fort  beyond  to  put  some 
other  guns  out  of  commission  ;  they  might  make  mis 
chief  for  him,  should  the  town  awake. 

"  Come  after  me ! "  he  called.  "  I  am  at  home 
here !  "  And  the  men  at  his  heels  marveled  at  him 
more  than  ever,  now  that  they  were  hand  to  hand  with 
such  an  instant  piece  of  business.  It  took  a  man  that 
was  half  devil  to  do  what  the  captain  was  doing,  and 
they  followed  as  if  they  loved  him.  He  stopped  now 
in  a  frenzy  of  sudden  rage.  "  They  have  had  time 
enough  already  to  start  the  burning;  what  keeps 
them  ?  There  should  be  a  dozen  fires  lit  now !  "  he 
cried,  as  he  ran  back  to  the  waterside.  The  rest  of 
the  boat's  crew  were  standing  where  he  had  left  them, 
and  met  his  reproaches  with  scared  faces  :  they  had 
their  pitch  and  tar  with  them,  and  had  boarded  a 
vessel,  but  the  candles  in  their  dark  lanterns,  which 
were  to  start  the  blaze,  had  flickered  and  gone  out. 
Somebody  had  cut  them  short :  it  was  a  dirty  trick, 
and  was  done  on  purpose.  They  told  in  loud,  indig 
nant  whispers  that  they  had  chosen  an  old  deserted 
ship  that  would  have  kindled  everything  near  her, 
but  they  had  no  light  left.  And  the  sky  was  fast 
brightening. 

The  captain's  face  was  awful  to  look  at,  as  he  stood 
aghast.  There  was  no  sight  of  fire  across  the  harbor, 
either,  and  no  quick  snake  of  flame  could  be  seen  run 
ning  up  the  masts.  He  stood  for  one  terrible  moment 
in  silence  and  despair.  "  And  no  flint  and  steel 


218  THE   TORY  LOVER 

among  us,  on  such  an  errand  !  "  he  gasped.  "  Come 
with  me,  Green !  "  he  commanded,  and  set  forth  again, 
running  like  a  deer  back  into  the  town. 

It  took  but  a  minute  to  pass,  by  a  narrow  way, 
among  some  poor  stone  houses  and  out  across  a  bit  of 
open  ground,  to  a  cottage  poorer  and  lower  than  any, 
and  here  Paul  Jones  lifted  the  clumsy  latch.  It  was 
a  cottage  of  a  single  room,  and  his  companion  followed 
hastily,  and  stood  waiting  close  behind  on  the  thres 
hold. 

"  Nancy,  Nancy,  my  dear !  "  said  the  captain,  in  a 
gentle  voice,  but  thrusting  back  a  warning  hand  to 
keep  the  surgeon  out.  "  Nancy,  ye  '11  not  be  fright 
ened  ;  't  is  no  thief,  but  your  poor  laddie,  John  Paul, 
that  you  wintered  long  ago  with  a  hurt  leg,  an'  he 
having  none  other  that  would  friend  him.  I  've  come 
now  but  to  friend  you  and  to  beg  a  light." 

There  was  a  cry  of  joy  and  a  sound  of  some  one 
rising  in  the  bed,  and  the  surgeon  heard  the  captain's 
hasty  steps  as  he  crossed  the  room  in  the  dark  and 
kissed  the  old  creature,  who  began  to  chatter  in  her 
feeble  voice. 

"  Yes,  here  's  your  old  tinder  box  in  its  place  on  the 
chimney,"  said  the  captain  hastily.  "  I  'm  only  dis 
tressed  for  a  light,  Mother  Nancy,  and  my  boat  just 
landing.  Here  's  for  ye  till  I  get  ashore  again  from 
my  ship,"  and  there  was  a  sound  of  a  heavy  handful 
of  money  falling  on  the  bed. 

"  Tak'  the  best  candle,  child,"  she  cried,  "  an'  pro 
mise  me  ye  '11  be  ashore  again  the  morn's  morn  an'  let 
me  see  your  bonny  eyes  by  day  !  I  said  ye  'd  come, 
—  I  always  said  ye  'd  come  !  "  But  the  two  men  were 
past  hearing  any  more,  as  they  ran  away  with  their 
treasure. 


WHITEHAVEN  219 

"  Why  in  God's  name  did  you  leave  the  door  wide 
open?  "  said  the  surgeon.  "  She  '11  die  of  a  pleurisy, 
and  your  gold  will  only  serve  to  bury  her  !  " 

There  was  no  time  for  dallying.  The  heap  of  com 
bustibles  on  one  old  vessel's  deck  was  quick  set  afire 
now  and  flung  down  the  hatches,  and  a  barrel  of  tar 
was  poured  into  the  thick-mounting  flames ;  this  old 
brig  was  well  careened  against  another,  and  their  yards 
were  fouled.  There  was  no  time  to  do  more  ;  the  two 
would  easily  scatter  fire  to  all  their  neighborhood  when 
the  morning  wind  sprung  up  to  help  them,  and  the 
captain  and  his  men  must  put  off  to  sea.  There  were 
still  no  signs  of  life  on  the  shore  or  the  fort  above. 

They  all  gathered  to  the  boat ;  the  oarsmen  were 
getting  their  places,  when  all  at  once  there  was  a  cry 
among  the  lanes  close  by,  and  a  crowd  of  men  were 
upon  them.  The  alarm  had  been  given,  and  the 
Ranger's  men  were  pressed  hard  in  a  desperate,  close 
fight.  The  captain  stood  on  the  end  of  the  little  pier 
with  his  pistol,  and  held  back  some  of  the  attacking 
party  for  one  terrible  minute,  till  all  his  men  were  in. 
"  Lay  out,  lay  out,  my  boys !  "  he  cried  then  from  his 
own  place  in  the  stern.  There  were  bullets  raining 
about  them,  but  they  were  quick  out  of  harm's  way  on 
the  water.  There  was  not  a  man  of  that  boat's  com 
pany  could  forget  the  captain's  calmness  and  daring, 
as  they  saw  him  stand  against  the  angry  crowd. 

The  flames  were  leaping  up  the  rigging  of  the  burn 
ing  ship  ;  the  shore  was  alive  with  men ;  there  were 
crowds  of  people  swarming  away  up  among  the  hills 
beyond  the  houses.  There  had  been  a  cannon  over 
looked,  or  some  old  ship's  gun  lay  upon  the  beach,  which 
presently  spoke  with  futile  bravado,  bellowing  its  hasty 
charge  when  the  captain's  boat  was  well  out  upon  the 


220  THE  TORY  LOVER 

bay.  The  hills  were  black  with  frightened  folk,  as  if 
Whitehaven  were  a  ruined  ant-hill ;  the  poor  town  was 
in  a  terror.  On  the  other  side  of  the  harbor  there  was 
no  blaze  even  yet,  and  the  captain  stood  in  his  boat, 
swaying  to  its  quick  movement,  with  anxious  eyes  set 
to  looking  for  the  other  men.  There  were  people  run 
ning  along  the  harbor  side,  and  excited  shapes  on  the 
decks  of  the  merchantmen  ;  suddenly,  to  his  relief  of 
mind,  he  saw  the  other  boat  coming  out  from  behind  a 
Dutch  brig. 

Lieutenant  Hall  was  in  command  of  her  now,  and 
he  stood  up  and  saluted  when  he  came  near  enough  to 
speak. 

"  Our  lights  failed  us,  sir,"  he  said,  looking  very 
grave ;  "  somebody  had  tampered  with  all  our  candles 
before  we  left  the  ship.  An  alarm  was  given  almost 
at  once,  and  our  landing  party  was  attacked.  Mr. 
Dickson  was  set  upon  and  injured,  but  escaped.  Mr. 
Wallingford  is  left  ashore." 

"  The  alarm  was  given  just  after  we  separated,"  said 
Dickson,  lifting  himself  from  the  bottom  of  the  boat. 
"  I  heard  loud  cries  for  the  guard,  and  a  man  set  upon 
me,  so  that  I  am  near  murdered.  They  could  not  have 
watched  us  coming.  You  see  there  has  been  treachery ; 
our  fine  lieutenant  has  stayed  ashore  from  choice." 

"  That  will  do,  sir  !  "  blazed  the  captain.  "  I  must 
hear  what  you  have  done  with  Wallingford.  Let  us 
get  back  to  our  ship !  "  And  the  two  boats  sped 
away  with  what  swiftness  they  could  across  the  great 
stretch  of  rough  water.  Some  of  the  men  were  regret 
ful,  but  some  wore  a  hard  and  surly  look  as  they  bent 
to  their  heavy  oars. 


XXV 

A   MAN'S   CHARACTER 

"  Yet  have  they  still  such  eyes  to  wait  on  them 
As  are  too  piercing1 ;  that  they  can  behold 
And  penetrate  the  Inwards  of  the  Heart." 

THE  men  left  on  board  the  Ranger,  with  Lieutenant 
Simpson  in  command,  who  had  been  watching  all  these 
long  hours,  now  saw  clouds  of  smoke  rising  from  among 
the  shipping,  but  none  from  the  other  side  of  the  town, 
where  they  knew  the  captain  had  ordered  many  fires 
to  be  set  among  the  warehouses.  The  two  boats  were 
at  last  seen  returning  in  company,  and  the  Ranger, 
which  had  drifted  seaward,  made  shift  with  the  morn 
ing  breeze  to  wear  a  little  nearer  and  pick  them  up. 
There  was  a  great  smoke  in  the  harbor,  but  the  town 
itself  stood  safe. 

The  captain  looked  back  eagerly  from  the  height  of 
the  deck  after  he  came  aboard  ;  then  his  face  fell.  "  I 
have  been  balked  of  my  purpose  !  "  he  cried.  "  Curse 
such  treachery  among  ye  !  Thank  God,  I  've  frightened 
them,  and  shown  what  a  Yankee  captain  may  dare  to 
do !  If  I  had  been  an  hour  earlier,  and  no  sneaking 
cur  had  tampered  with  our  lights  "  — 

He  was  pale  with  excitement,  and  stood  there  at 
first  triumphant,  and  next  instant  cursing  his  hard 
luck.  The  smoke  among  the  shipping  was  already 
less;  the  Ranger  was  running  seaward,  as  if  the 


222  THE  TORY  LOVER 

mountains  had  waked  all  their  sleepy  winds  and  sent 
them  out  to  hurry  her. 

There  was  a  crowd  on  deck  about  the  men  who  had 
returned,  and  the  sailors  on  the  yards  were  calling 
down  to  their  fellows  to  ask  questions.  The  captain 
had  so  far  taken  no  notice  of  any  one,  or  even  of  this 
great  confusion. 

"Who's  your  gentleman  now?"  Dickson's  voice 
suddenly  rang  triumphant,  like  a  cracked  trumpet, 
above  the  sounds  of  bragging  narrative  that  were  punc 
tuated  by  oaths  to  both  heaven  and  the  underworld. 
"  Who  's  a  traitor  and  a  damned  white-livered  dog  of 
a  Tory  now?  Who  dropped  our  spare  candles  over 
board,  and  dirtied  his  pretty  fingers  to  spoil  the  rest? 
Who  gave  alarm  quick  's  he  got  his  boat  ashore,  and 
might  have  had  us  all  strung  up  on  their  English  gal 
lows  before  sunset  ?  " 

Dickson  was  standing  with  his  back  against  the  mast, 
with  a  close-shouldered  audience  about  him,  officious 
to  give  exact  details  of  the  expedition.  Aloft,  they 
stopped  who  were  shaking  out  the  sails,  and  tried  to 
hear  what  he  was  saying.  At  this  moment  old  Cooper 
lowered  himself  hand  over  hand,  coming  down  on  the 
run  into  the  middle  of  the  company  before  he  could 
be  stopped,  and  struck  Dickson  a  mighty  blow  in  the 
breast  that  knocked  him  breathless.  Some  of  Dickson's 
followers  set  upon  Cooper  in  return ;  but  he  twisted 
out  of  their  clutch,  being  a  man  of  great  strength  and 
size,  and  took  himself  off  to  a  little  distance,  where  he 
stood  and  looked  up  imploringly  at  the  captain,  and 
then  dropped  his  big  head  into  his  hands  and  began  to 
sob.  The  captain  came  to  the  edge  of  the  quarter-deck 
and  looked  down  at  him  without  speaking.  Just  then 
Dickson  was  able  to  recover  speech  ;  he  had  nearly 
every  man  aboard  for  his  audience. 


A  MAN'S   CHARACTER  223 

"  You  had  ten  minutes  to  the  good  afore  Mr.  Wal- 
lingford  follered  ye  !  "  bellowed  Han  scorn,  one  of  the 
Berwick  men  who  had  been  in  the  same  boat. 

"  I  saw  nothing  of  the  judge's  noble  son  ;  he  took 
good  care  of  that !  "  answered  Dickson  boldly  ;  and 
there  was  a  cry  of  approval  among  those  who  had  sus 
pected  Wallingford.  They  were  now  in  the  right; 
they  at  last  had  proof  that  Wallingford  deserved  the 
name  of  traitor,  or  any  evil  name  they  might  be  dis 
posed  to  call  him.  Every  man  in  the  lieutenant's  boat 
was  eager  to  be  heard  and  to  tell  his  own  story.  Mr. 
Hall  had  disappeared  ;  as  for  Wallingford,  he  was  not 
there  to  plead  for  himself,  and  his  accusers  had  it  all 
their  own  way. 

"  I  tell  ye  I  ain't  afraid  but  he  's  all  right !  A  man's 
character  ought  to  count  for  something !  "  cried  Hans- 
corn.  But  there  was  a  roar  of  contempt  from  those 
who  had  said  from  the  first  that  a  Tory  was  a  Tory, 
and  that  Wallingford  had  no  business  to  be  playing  at 
officer  aboard  the  Eanger,  and  making  shift  to  stand 
among  proper  seamen.  He  had  gone  ashore  alone 
and  stayed  ashore,  and  there  had  been  a  sudden  alarm 
in  the  town :  the  black  truth  stared  everybody  in  the 
face. 

The  captain's  first  rage  had  already  quieted  in  these 
few  minutes  since  they  had  come  aboard,  and  his  face 
had  settled  into  a  look  of  stolid  disappointment  and 
weariness.  He  had  given  Whitehaven  a  great  fright, 
—  that  was  something  ;  the  news  of  it  would  quickly 
travel  along  the  coast.  He  went  to  his  cabin  now, 
and  summoned  Dickson  and  Hall  to  make  their  state 
ments.  Lieutenant  Hall  had  no  wish  to  be  the  speaker, 
but  the  fluent  Dickson,  battered  and  water-soaked, 


224  THE   TORY  LOVER 

minutely  described  the  experience  of  the  boat's  com 
pany.  It  certainly  seemed  true  enough  that  Walling- 
ford  had  deserted.  Lieutenant  Hall  could  contradict 
nothing  that  was  said,  though  the  captain  directly  ap 
pealed  to  him  more  than  once. 

"  After  all,  we  have  only  your  own  word  for  what 
happened  on  shore,"  said  the  captain  brutally,  as  if 
Dickson  were  but  a  witness  in  court  before  the  oppos 
ing  attorney. 

"  You  have  only  my  word,"  said  Dickson.  "  I  sup 
pose  you  think  that  you  can  doubt  it.  At  least  you 
can  see  that  I  have  suffered.  I  feel  the  effects  of 
the  blows,  and  my  clothes  are  dripping  here  on  your 
cabin  floor  in  a  way  that  will  cause  you  discomfort.  I 
have  already  told  you  all  I  can." 

"  I  know  not  what  to  believe,"  answered  Paul  Jones, 
after  a  moment's  reflection,  but  taking  no  notice  of 
the  man's  really  suffering  condition.  The  captain 
stood  mute,  looking  squarely  into  Dickson's  face,  as  if 
he  were  still  speaking.  It  was  very  uncomfortable. 
"  Lieutenant  Wallingford  is  a  man  of  character. 
Some  misfortune  may  have  overtaken  him  ;  at  the 
last  moment  "  — 

"  He  made  the  most  of  the  moments  he  had,"  sneered 
Dickson  then.  "  The  watch  was  upon  us ;  I  had  hard 
work  to  escape.  I  tried  to  do  my  best." 

"Tried!"  roared  the  captain.  "What's  trying? 
'Tis  the  excuse  of  a  whiner  to  say  he  tried ;  a  man 
either  does  the  thing  he  ought,  or  he  does  it  not.  I 
gave  your  orders  with  care,  sir ;  the  treachery  began 
here  on  board.  There  should  have  been  fires  set  in 
those  spots  I  commanded.  'T  was  the  business  of  my 
officers  to  see  that  this  was  done,  and  to  have  their 
proper  lights  at  hand.  Curse  such  incompetence ! 


A  MAN'S  CHARACTER  225 

Curse  your  self-seeking  and  your  jealousy  of  me  and 
one  another !  "  lie  railed.  "  This  is  what  you  count 
for  when  my  work  is  at  the  pinch !  If  only  my  good 
fellows  of  the  Alfred  had  been  with  me,  I  might  have 
laid  three  hundred  ships  in  ashes,  with  half  White- 
haven  town." 

Dickson's  face  wore  a  fresh  look  pf  triumph ;  the 
captain's  hopes  were  confessedly  dashed  to  ground, 
and  the  listener  was  the  better  pleased.  Hall,  a  decent 
man,  looked  sorry  enough ;  but  Dickson's  expression 
of  countenance  lent  fuel  to  the  flames  of  wrath,  and 
the  captain  saw  his  look. 

"  I  could  sooner  believe  that  last  night's  villain 
were  yourself,  sir ! "  he  blazed  out  suddenly,  and 
Dickson's  smug  face  grew  a  horrid  color.  The  attack 
was  so  furious  that  he  was  not  without  fear ;  a  better 
man  would  have  suffered  shame. 

"  I  take  that  from  nobody.  You  forget  yourself, 
Captain  Jones,"  he  managed  to  say,  with  choking 
throat ;  and  then  the  viper's  instinct  in  his  breast 
made  him  take  revenge.  "  You  should  be  more  civil 
to  your  officers,  sir  ;  you  have  insulted  too  many  of 
us.  Remember  that  we  are  American  citizens,  and 
you  have  given  even  Mr.  Wallingford  good  reason  to 
hate  you.  He  is  of  a  slow  sort,  but  he  may  have 
bided  his  time  !  " 

The  bravery  of  the  hypocrite  counted  for  much. 
Paul  Jones  stared  at  him  for  a  moment,  wounded  to 
the  quick,  and  speechless.  Then,  "You  sneaking 
thief  !  "  he  hissed  between  his  teeth.  "  Am  I  to  be 
baited  by  a  coward  like  you  ?  We  '11  see  who  's  the 
better  man  !  "  But  at  this  lamentable  juncture  Lieu 
tenant  Hall  stepped  between,  and  by  dint  of  hard 
pushing  urged  the  offending  Dickson  to  the  deck 


226  THE   TORY  LOVER 

again.  Such  low  quarrels  were  getting  to  be  too  com 
mon  on  the  Ranger,  but  this  time  he  was  not  unwil 
ling  to  take  the  captain's  part.  Dickson  was  chilled 
to  the  bone,  and  his  teeth  were  chattering ;  the  bruises 
on  his  face  were  swelling  fast.  He  looked  like  a  man 
that  had  been  foully  dealt  with,  —  first  well  pounded 
and  then  ducked,  as  Hall  had  once  seen  an  offender 
treated  by  angry  fishwives  in  the  port  of  Leith. 

There  was  much  heaviness  among  those  Berwick 
men  who  stood  bravely  for  Roger  AVallingford ;  one 
of  them,  at  least,  refused  to  be  comforted,  and  turned 
his  face  to  the  wall  in  sorrow  when  the  lieutenant's 
fate  was  discussed.  At  first  he  had  boldly  insisted 
that  they  would  soon  find  out  the  truth ;  but  there 
were  those  who  were  ready  to  confute  every  argument, 
even  that  of  experience,  and  now  even  poor  Cooper 
went  sad  and  silent  about  his  work,  and  fought  the 
young  squire's  enemies  no  more. 


XXVI 

THEY    HAVE   MADE   PREY   OF   HIM 

"  Implacable  hate,  patient  cunning1,  and  a  sleepless  refinement  of 
device  to  inflict  the  extremest  anguish  on  an  enemy,  these  things  are 
evil." 

WHILE  Wallingford  insisted  that  he  must  carry 
out  the  captain's  plain  instructions  to  the  letter,  the 
moment  their  boat  touched  the  landing  steps  Dickson 
leaped  over  the  side  and  ran  up  the  pier.  He  had 
said,  carelessly,  that  it  was  no  use  to  risk  several  lives 
where  one  might  serve ;  it  was  possible  that  they  had 
been  seen  approaching,  and  he  would  go  and  play  the 
scout,  and  select  their  buildings  for  firing.  Both  the 
lieutenants,  Wallingford  and  Hall,  took  this  breach 
of  discipline  angrily ;  there  seemed  to  be  an  aggra 
vating  desire  in  Dickson's  heart  to  put  himself  first 
now  when  it  would  count  to  his  own  gain.  Their 
orders  had  been  to  leave  the  boat  in  his  charge  while 
the  landing  party  was  away  ;  and  in  the  next  few 
moments,  when  he  had  disappeared  into  the  narrow 
street  that  led  up  from  the  small  pier,  Wallingford 
grew  uneasy,  and  went  ashore  himself.  He  climbed 
to  the  top  of  the  pier,  and  then  heard  Dickson's  voice 
calling  at  no  great  distance  as  if  for  help.  As  he 
started  to  run  that  way,  he  shouted  to  the  men  below 
to  follow  him. 

His  voice  was  lost  in  the  noise  of  waves  lapping 


228  THE  TORY  LOVER 

and  splashing  about  them  against  the  pier ;  they 
heard  his  cry,  but  could  not  tell  what  it  meant,  or 
whether  they  should  stay  or  go.  The  captain's  orders 
had  been  strict  that  all  three  of  the  elder  officers 
should  not  leave  the  boat  at  once.  Young  Hill,  the 
midshipman,  a  fine  brave  fellow,  now  landed  ;  but  in 
the  dim  light  he  could  see  nobody,  and  returned.  The 
discovery  was  then  made  that  they  had  all  their  kin 
dlings  and  tar  in  readiness,  but  there  were  no  candles 
left  in  the  two  lanterns,  and  the  bag  of  spare  candles 
and  tinder  box  which  the  midshipman  had  in  charge 
was  no  longer  to  be  found  in  the  boat.  It  had  been 
laid  next  the  thwart,  and  in  crossing  some  rough 
water  might  have  fallen  overboard,  though  nobody 
could  understand  the  accident. 

They  could  only  wait  now,  in  mortification  and  dis 
tress,  for  Wallingford's  return,  and  some  minutes 
passed  in  a  grievous  uncertainty. 

The  lieutenant  had  much  resented  Dickson's  show 
of  authority,  and  feared  the  ill  success  of  his  errand ; 
although  he  had  no  liking  for  the  man,  it  was  no  time 
to  consider  personalities  ;  they  were  all  on  duty,  and 
must  report  to  their  commander.  It  was  certainly 
dangerous  for  a  man  to  venture  ashore  alone,  and  the 
first  distant  outcry  set  him  running  at  the  top  of  his 
speed,  expecting  the  landing  party  to  follow. 

Wallingford  was  light-footed,  and  as  he  ran  he 
plainly  heard  Dickson's  voice  once  more,  and  then  all 
was  silent.  He  hurried  along,  keeping  close  to  the 
walls  of  warehouses,  and  came  next  into  a  street  of 
common,  poor  dwellings  of  the  seafaring  folk.  Then 
he  stopped  and  listened,  and  whistled  a  call  familiar 
enough  to  Dickson  or  any  man  of  the  Somersworth 
and  Berwick  neighborhoods,  as  if  they  had  strayed 


THEY  HAVE  MADE   PREY  OF  HIM  229 

from  each  other  hunting  in  the  old  York  woods. 
There  was  no  answer,  and  he  turned  to  go  back ;  he 
must  rejoin  his  men  and  attend  to  duty,  and  Dickson 
must  take  care  of  himself.  There  were  dark  alleys 
that  led  from  this  narrow  thoroughfare  to  the  water 
side  ;  he  heard  footfalls,  and  again  stood  listening  in 
the  shelter  of  a  deep  doorway,  when  a  group  of  half- 
dressed  men  burst  out  of  a  side  lane,  armed,  and  with 
a  soldier  or  two  among  them.  They  ran  down  the 
street  toward  the  shore,  and  took  a  short  way  round  a 
corner.  Wallingford  heard  a  word  or  two  which 
made  him  sure  they  had  been  given  warning;  it 
flashed  through  his  brain  that  this  was  Dickson's 
business  and  plan  for  revenge.  If  their  own  men 
were  still  in  the  boat  or  near  it,  —  which  seemed 
likely,  since  they  had  not  followed  him,  —  they  would 
be  safe  enough,  but  danger  threatened  them  all. 
There  was  a  sound  of  gathering  voices  and  frightened 
outcries  and  slamming  doors  beyond  in  the  town,  as  if 
the  whole  place  were  astir,  and  the  morning  light  was 
growing  fast  in  the  sky,  and  making  a  new  day  in  the 
dark  little  street.  There  was  nothing  for  Wallingford 
to  do  but  to  hurry  back  to  the  boat  as  best  he  might. 
In  some  of  the  neighboring  houses  they  had  heard  the 
guard  go  by,  and  sleepy  heads  were  appearing  to  learn 
the  news.  The  lieutenant  made  haste.  Just  as  he 
passed  the  side  passage  whence  the  men  had  come, 
Dickson  himself  appeared  through  an  archway  just 
beyond,  and  stopped  to  call,  "  Watch  !  Watch  !  The 
Yankees  are  in  the  town  to  set  it  burning !  Watch  ! 
Watch !  "  he  was  crying  at  the  top  of  his  lungs,  in 
stead  of  that  faint  "  Help  !  Help !  "  which  had 
seemed  to  cry  for  mercy  in  Wallingford's  ears,  and 
had  enticed  him  into  peril  of  his  life. 


230  THE   TORY  LOVER 

With  one  bound  Wallingford  leaped  upon  the 
scoundrel  and  caught  him  in  a  mighty  clutch. 
There  was  the  look  of  a  fiend  in  Dicksou's  face,  in 
the  dim  light,  as  he  turned  and  saw  the  man  he  hated 
most,  and  the  two  clinched  in  a  fury.  Then  Dickson 
remembered  the  straight  knife  in  his  belt,  and  as  they 
fought  be  twisted  himself  free  enough  to  get  it  in  his 
hand  and  strike  ;  next  moment  Wallingford  was  flat 
on  the  cobblestones,  heavily  fallen  with  a  deep  cut  in 
his  shoulder. 

There  were  men  running  their  way,  and  Dickson 
fled  before  them.  He  had  been  badly  mauled  before 
the  trick  of  stabbing  could  set  him  free  ;  the  breath 
was  sobbing  out  of  his  lungs  from  the  struggle,  but 
he  ran  unhindered  to  the  pier  end,  past  the  gaping 
townsfolk,  and  threw  himself  into  the  water,  striking 
out  for  the  boat,  which  had  drawn  well  away  from 
shore.  There  was  a  loud  shout  at  his  escape,  but  he 
was  a  good  swimmer.  They  were  watching  from  the 
boat,  and  when  they  saw  that  Dickson  lagged,  they 
drew  nearer  and  dragged  him  in.  It  was  all  in  a 
moment ;  there  was  firing  at  them  now  from  the 
shore.  Hall  and  the  midshipman  were  at  the  very 
worst  of  their  disappointment;  they  had  failed  in 
their  errand ;  the  whole  thing  was  a  fiasco,  and  worse. 

Then  Dickson,  though  sick  and  heavy  from  such 
an  intake  of  salt  water,  managed  to  speak  and  tell 
them  that  Wallingford  had  waked  the  town ;  he  must 
have  found  the  guardhouse  at  once,  for  the  watch  was 
out,  and  had  even  set  upon  himself  as  he  returned. 
He  had  reconnoitred  carefully  and  found  all  safe, 
when  he  heard  a  man  behind  him,  and  had  to  fight 
for  his  life.  Then  he  heard  Wallingford  calling  and 
beating  upon  the  doors.  They  might  know  whether 


THEY  HAVE  MADE  PREY  OF  HIM  231 

they  had  shipped  a  Tory,  now !  Dickson  could  speak 
no  more,  and  sank  down,  as  if  he  were  spent  indeed, 
into  the  bottom  of  the  boat.  He  could  tell  already 
where  every  blow  had  struck  him,  and  a  faintness 
weakened  his  not  too  sturdy  frame. 

Now  they  could  see  the  shipping  all  afire  across  the 
harbor  as  they  drew  out ;  the  other  boat's  party  had 
done  their  work,  and  it  was  near  to  broad  day.  Now 
the  people  were  running  and  crying  confusion,  and  boats 
were  putting  out  along  the  shore,  and  an  alarm  bell 
kept  up  an  incessant  ringing  in  the  town.  The  Ean- 
ger's  men  rowed  with  all  their  might.  Dickson  did 
not  even  care  because  the  captain  would  give  the 
boat  a  rating ;  he  had  paid  back  old  scores  to  the  lofty 
young  squire,  his  enemy  and  scoruer  ;  the  fault  of  their 
failure  would  be  Wallingford's.  His  heart  was  light 
enough  ;  he  had  done  his  work  well.  If  Wallingford 
was  not  already  dead  or  bleeding  to  death  like  a  pig, 
back  there  in  the  street,  the  Whitehaven  folk  were 
like  to  make  a  pretty  hanging  of  him  before  sunset. 
There  was  one  pity,  —  he  had  left  his  knife  sticking 
in  the  Tory's  shoulder,  and  this  caused  a  moment  of 
sharp  regret ;  but  it  was  a  plain  sailor's  knife  which 
he  had  lately  got  by  chance  at  Brest,  and  there  were 
no  witnesses  to  the  encounter ;  his  word  was  as  good 
as  Wallingford's  to  most  men  on  their  ship.  He  be 
gan  to  long  for  the  moment  when  the  captain  should 
hear  their  news.  "  He  's  none  so  great  a  hero  yet," 
thought  Dickson,  and  groaned  with  pain  as  the  boat 
lurched  and  shifted  him  where  he  lay  like  ballast 
among  the  unused  kindlings.  Wallingford  had  given 
him  a  fine  lasting  legacy  of  blows. 


XXVII 

A   PRISONER   AND   CAPTIVE 

"  Close  at  thy  side  I  walk  unseen, 
And  feel  thy  passion  and  thy  prayer. 
Wide  separation  doth  but  prove 
The  mystic  might  of  human  love." 

THE  poor  lieutenant  was  soon  turned  over  scornfully 
by  a  musket  butt  and  the  toe  of  a  stout  Whitehaven 
shoe.  The  blood  was  steadily  running  from  his  shoul 
der,  and  his  coat  was  all  sodden  with  a  sticky  wetness. 
He  had  struck  his  head  as  he  fell,  and  was  at  this 
moment  happily  unconscious  of  all  his  woes. 

"  Let  him  lie,  the  devil !  "  growled  a  second  man 
who  came  along,  —  a  citizen  armed  with  a  long  cut 
lass,  but  stupid  with  fear,  and  resenting  the  loss  of  his 
morning  sleep  and  all  his  peace  of  mind.  They  could 
see  the  light  of  the  burning  vessel  on  the  roofs  above. 
"  Let 's  get  away  a  bit  further  from  the  shore,"  said 
he  ;  "  there  may  be  their  whole  ship's  company  landed 
and  ranging  the  town." 

"  This  damned  fellow  '11  do  nobody  any  mischief," 
agreed  the  soldier,  and  away  they  ran.  But  presently 
his  companion  stole  back  to  find  if  there  were  any 
thing  for  an  honest  man  and  a  wronged  one  in  this 
harmless  officer's  pockets.  There  were  some  letters  in 
women's  writing  that  could  be  of  no  use  to  any  one, 
and  some  tobacco.  "  'T  is  the  best  American  sort," 


A  PRISONER  AND   CAPTIVE  233 

said  the  old  citizen,  who  had  once  been  a  sailor  in  the 
Virginia  trade.  He  saw  the  knife  sticking  fast,  and 
pulled  it  out ;  but  finding  it  was  a  cheap  thing  enough, 
and  disagreeable  just  now  to  have  in  hand,  he  tossed 
it  carelessly  aside.  He  found  a  purse  of  money  in  one 
pocket,  and  a  handsome  watch  with  a  seal  like  some 
great  gentleman's  ;  but  this  was  strangely  hooked  and 
ringed  to  the  fob  buttons,  and  the  chain  so  strong 
that  though  a  man  pulled  hard  enough  to  break  it, 
and  even  set  his  foot  on  the  stranger's  thigh  to  get  a 
good  purchase,  the  links  would  not  give  way.  The 
citizen  looked  for  the  convenient  knife  again,  but 
missed  it  under  the  shadow  of  the  wall.  There  were 
people  coming.  He  pocketed  what  he  had  got,  and 
looked  behind  him  anxiously  ;  then  he  got  up  and  ran 
away,  only  half  content  with  the  purse  and  good 
tobacco. 

An  old  woman,  and  a  girl  with  her,  were  peeping 
through  the  dirty  panes  of  a  poor,  narrow  house  close 
by ;  and  now,  seeing  that  there  was  such  a  pretty 
gentleman  in  distress,  and  that  the  citizen,  whom  they 
knew  and  treasured  a  grudge  against,  had  been 
frightened  away,  they  came  out  to  drag  him  into 
shelter.  Just  as  they  stepped  forth  together  on  the 
street,  however,  a  squad  of  soldiers,  coming  up  at 
double-quick,  captured  this  easy  prisoner,  whose  heart 
was  beating  yet.  One  of  them  put  the  hanging  watch 
into  his  own  pocket,  unseen,  —  oddly  enough,  it  came 
easily  into  his  hand ;  and  after  some  consideration  of 
so  grave  a  matter  of  military  necessity,  two  of  them 
lifted  WaUingford,  and  finding  him  both  long  and 
heavy  called  a  third  to  help,  and  turned  back  to  carry 
him  to  the  guard-house.  By  the  time  they  reached 
the  door  a  good  quarter  part  of  the  townsfolk  seemed 


234  THE   TORY  LOVER 

to  be  following  in  procession,  with  angry  shouts,  and 
tearful  voices  of  women  begging  to  know  if  their 
husbands  or  lovers  had  been  seen  in  danger ;  and 
there  were  loud  threats,  too,  meant  for  the  shaming  of 
the  silent  figure  carried  by  stout  yeomen  of  the  guard. 

After  some  hours  Wallingford  waked,  wretched 
with  the  smart  of  his  wounds,  and  dazed  by  the  first 
sight  of  his  strange  lodging  in  the  town  jail.  There 
were  no  friends  to  succor  him ;  he  had  not  even  the 
resource  of  being  mistaken  for  a  Tory  and  a  friend  of 
the  Crown.  There  were  at  least  three  strutting  heroes 
showing  themselves  in  different  quarters  of  the  town, 
that  evening,  who  claimed  the  honor  of  giving  such 
a  dangerous  pirate  his  deathblow. 

Some  days  passed  before  the  officer  in  charge  of 
this  frightened  seaport  (stricken  with  sincere  dismay, 
and  apprehensive  of  still  greater  disaster  from  such 
stealthy  neighbors  on  the  sea)  could  receive  the  answer 
to  his  report  sent  to  headquarters.  Wallingford  felt 
more  and  more  the  despair  of  his  situation.  The 
orders  came  at  last  that,  as  soon  as  he  could  be  moved, 
he  should  be  sent  to  join  his  fellow  rebels  in  the  old 
Mill  Prison  at  Plymouth.  The  Whitehaven  citizens 
should  not  risk  or  invite  any  attempt  at  his  rescue  by 
his  stay.  But,  far  from  regretting  his  presence,  there 
were  even  those  who  lamented  his  departure ;  who 
would  have  willingly  bought  new  ribbons  to  their 
bonnets  to  go  and  see  such  a  rogue  hanged,  wounded 
shoulder  and  all,  on  a  convenient  hill  and  proper 
gallows  outside  the  town. 

None  of  the  heavy-laden  barley  ships  or  colliers 
dared  to  come  or  go.  The  fishing  boats  that  ventured 
out  to  their  business  came  home  in  a  flutter  at  the 


A  PRISONER  AND   CAPTIVE  235 

sight  of  a  strange  sail ;  and  presently  Whitehaven 
was  aghast  at  the  news  of  the  robbery  of  all  my  Lady 
Selkirk's  plate,  and  the  astonishing  capture  of  his 
Majesty's  guardship  Drake  out  of  Carrickfergus,  and 
six  merchantmen  taken  beside  in  the  Irish  Sea,  — 
three  of  them  sunk,  and  three  of  them  sent  down  as 
prizes  to  French  ports.  The  quicker  such  a  prisoner 
left  this  part  of  the  realm,  the  better  for  Whitehaven. 
The  sheriff  and  a  strong  guard  waited  next  morning 
at  the  door  of  the  jail,  and  Wallingford,  taken  from 
his  hard  bed,  was  set  on  a  steady  horse  to  begin  the 
long  southward  journey,  and  be  handed  on  from  jail 
to  jail.  The  fresh  air  of  the  spring  morning,  after 
the  close  odors  of  his  prison,  at  first  revived  him. 
Even  the  pain  of  his  wound  was  forgotten,  and  he  took 
the  change  gladly,  not  knowing  whither  he  went  or 
what  the  journey  was  meant  to  bring  him. 

At  first  they  climbed  long  hills  in  sight  of  the  sea. 
Notwithstanding  all  his  impatience  of  the  sordid  jeal 
ousies  and  discomforts  of  life  on  board  the  Ranker, 

o 

Roger  Wallingford  turned  his  weak  and  painful  body 
more  than  once,  trying  to  catch  a  last  glimpse  of  the 
tall  masts  of  the  brave,  fleet  little  ship.  A  remem 
brance  of  the  good-fellowship  of  his  friends  aboard 
seemed  to  make  a  man  forget  everything  else,  and  to 
put  warmth  in  his  heart,  though  the  chill  wind  on  the 
fells  blew  through  his  very  bones.  For  the  first  time 
he  had  been  treated  as  a  man  among  men  on  board 
the  Ranger.  In  early  youth  the  heir  of  a  rich  man 
could  not  but  be  exposed  to  the  flatteries  of  those  who 
sought  his  father's  favors,  and  of  late  his  property  and 
influence  counted  the  Loyalists  far  more  than  any  of 
that  counsel  out  of  his  own  heart  for  which  some  of 
them  had  begged  obsequiously.  Now  he  had  come 


236  THE  TORY  LOVER 

face  to  face  with  life  as  plain  men  knew  it,  and  his 
sentiment  of  sympathy  had  grown  and  doubled  in  the 
hard  process.  He  winced  at  the  remembrance  of  that 
self-confidence  he  had  so  cherished  in  earlier  years. 
He  had  come  near  to  falling  an  easy  prey  to  those 
who  called  him  Sir  Roger,  and  were  but  serving  their 
own  selfish  ends  ;  who  cared  little  for  either  Old  Eng 
land  or  New,  and  still  less  for  their  King.  There 
was  no  such  thing  as  a  neutral,  either  ;  a  man  was  one 
thing  or  the  other.  And  now  his  head  grew  light  and 
dizzy,  while  one  of  those  sudden  visions  of  Mary 
Hamilton's  face,  the  brave  sweetness  of  her  living 
eyes  as  if  they  were  close  to  his  own,  made  him  forget 
the  confused  thoughts  of  the  moment  before. 

The  quick  bracing  of  the  morning  air  was  too  much 
for  the  prisoner ;  he  felt  more  and  more  as  if  he  were 
dreaming.  There  was  a  strange  longing  in  his  heart 
to  be  back  in  the  shelter  and  quiet  of  the  jail  itself ; 
there  began  to  be  a  dull  roaring  in  his  ears.  Like  a 
sharp  pain  there  came  to  him  the  thought  of  home,  of 
his  mother's  looks  and  her  smile  as  she  stood  watch 
ing  at  the  window  when  he  came  riding  home.  He 
was  not  riding  home  now  :  the  thought  of  it  choked 
his  throat.  He  remembered  his  mother  as  he  had 
proudly  seen  her  once  in  her  satin  gown  and  her  laces 
and  diamonds,  at  the  great  feast  for  Governor  Ilutch- 
inson's  birthday,  in  the  Province  House,  —  by  far  the 
first,  to  his  young  eyes,  of  the  fine  distinguished  ladies 
who  were  there.  How  frail  and  slender  she  stood 
among  them !  But  now  a  wretched  weakness  mas 
tered  him ;  he  was  afraid  to  think  where  he  might 
be  going.  They  could  not  know  how  ill  and  helpless 
he  was,  these  stout  men  of  his  guard,  who  sometimes 
watched  him  angrily,  and  then  fell  to  talking  together 


A  PRISONER  AND   CAPTIVE  237 

in  low  voices.  The  chill  of  the  mountain  cloud  they 
were  riding  into  seemed  to  have  got  to  his  heart. 
Again  his  brain  failed  him,  and  then  grew  frightfully 
clear  again ;  then  he  began  to  fall  asleep  in  the  saddle, 
and  to  know  that  he  slept,  jolting  and  swaying  as  they 
began  to  ride  faster.  The  horse  was  a  steady,  plod 
ding  creature,  whose  old  sides  felt  warm  and  comfort 
able  to  the  dreaming  rider.  He  wished,  ever  so  dimly, 
that  if  he  fell  they  would  leave  him  there  by  the  road 
and  let  him  sleep.  He  lost  a  stirrup  now,  and  it 
struck  his  ankle  sharply  to  remind  him,  but  there  was 
no  use  to  try  to  get  it  again  ;  then  everything  turned 
black. 

One  of  the  soldiers  caught  the  horse  just  as  the 
prisoner's  head  began  to  drag  along  the  frozen  road. 

"  His  wound  's  a-bleeding  bad.  Look-a-here  !  "  he 
shouted  to  the  others,  who  were  riding  on,  their 
horses  pressing  each  other  close,  and  their  cloaks  held 
over  their  faces  in  the  cold  mountain  wind.  "  Here, 
ahoy  !  our  man  's  dead,  lads  !  The  blood  's  trailed  out 
o'  him  all  along  the  road !  " 

"  He  's  cheated  justice,  then,  curse  him  !  "  said  the 
^officer  smartly,  looking  down  from  his  horse ;  but  the 
old  corporal,  who  had  fought  at  Quebec  with  Wolfe, 
and  knew  soldiering  by  heart,  though  he  was  low  on 
the  ladder  of  promotion  by  reason  of  an  unconquerable 
love  of  brandy,  —  the  old  corporal  dropped  on  his 
knees,  and  felt  Wallingford's  heart  beating  small  and 
quick  inside  the  wet,  stained  coat,  and  then  took  off 
his  own  ragged  riding  cloak  to  wrap  him  from  the 
cold. 

"  Poor  lad  !  "  he  said  compassionately.  "  I  think 
he  's  fell  among  thieves,  somehow,  by  t'  looks  of  him ; 
't  is  an  honest  face  of  a  young  gentleman's  iver  I  see. 


238  THE  TORY  LOVER 

There 's  nowt  for  't  now  but  a  litter,  an' t'  get  some 
grog  down  his  starved  throat.  I  misdoubt  he  's  dead 
as  t'  stones  in  road  ere  we  get  to  Kendal !  " 

"  Get  him  a-horse  again  !  "  jeered  another  man.  "  If 
we  had  some  alegar  now,  we  mought  fetch  him  to ! 
Say,  whaar  er  ye  boun',  ye  are  sae  dond  out  in  reed 
wescut  an'  lace  ?  "  and  he  pushed  Wallingford's  limp, 
heavy  body  with  an  impatient  foot ;  but  the  prisoner 
made  no  answer. 


XXVIII 

NEWS    AT   THE   LANDING 

"  What,  have  the  heralds  come, 
To  tell  this  quiet  shore  of  victories  ?  — 

There  is  a  mother  weeping-  for  her  son ! 

Like  some  lean  tree  whose  fruit  has  dropt,  she  gives 

Her  all,  to  wither  in  autumnal  woe." 

THERE  were  several  low  buildings  to  the  east  of 
Colonel  Hamilton's  house,  where  various  domestic 
affairs  were  established ;  the  last  of  these  had  the 
large  spinning  room  in  the  second  story,  and  stood 
four-square  to  the  breezes.  Here  were  the  wool  and 
flax  wheels  and  the  loom,  with  all  their  implements  ; 
and  here  Peggy  reigned  over  her  handmaidens  one 
warm  spring  afternoon,  with  something  less  than  her 
accustomed  severity.  She  had  just  been  declaring,  in 
a  general  way,  that  the  idle  clack  of  foolish  tongues 
distressed  her  ears  more  than  the  noise  of  the  loom 
and  wheels  together. 

There  was  an  outside  stairway,  and  the  coveted  seat 
of  the  young  maids  who  were  sewing  was  on  the  broad 
doorstep  at  the  stairhead.  You  could  look  up  the 
wide  fields  to  the  long  row  of  elms  by  General  Good 
win's,  and  see  what  might  pass  by  on  the  Portsmouth 
road ;  you  could  also  command  the  long  green  lane 
that  led  downhill  toward  the  great  house  :  also  the 
shipyard,  and,  beyond  that,  a  long  stretch  of  the  river 
itself.  A  young  man  must  be  wary  in  his  approach 


240  THE   TORY  LOVER 

who  was  not  descried  afar  by  the  sentinels  of  this 
pretty  garrison.  On  a  perfectly  silent  afternoon  in 
May,  the  whole  world,  clouds  and  all,  appeared  to  be 
fast  asleep ;  but  something  might  happen  at  any  mo 
ment,  and  it  behooved  Hannah  Neal  and  Phebe  Hodg- 
don  to  be  on  the  watch. 

They  sat  side  by  side  on  the  doorstep,  each  reluc 
tantly  top-sewing  a  new  linen  sheet ;  two  other  girls 
were  spinning  flax  within  the  room,  and  old  Peggy 
herself  was  at  the  loom,  weaving  with  steady  dili 
gence.  As  she  sat  there,  treading  and  reaching  at  her 
work,  with  quick  click-clacks  of  the  shuttle  and  a  fine 
persistence  of  awkward  energy,  she  could  look  across 
the  river  to  Madam  Wallingford's  house,  with  its  high 
elms  and  rows  of  shuttered  windows.  Between  her  heart 
and  old  Susan's  there  was  a  bond  of  lifelong  friendship; 
they  seldom  met,  owing  to  their  respective  responsibili 
ties  ;  they  even  went  to  different  places  of  worship  on 
Sunday ;  but  they  always  took  a  vast  and  silent  com 
fort  in  watching  for  each  other's  light  at  night. 

It  was  Peggy's  habit  to  sing  softly  at  her  work ; 
once  in  a  while,  in  her  gentlest  mood,  she  chanted 
aloud  a  snatch  of  some  old  song.  There  was  never 
but  one  song  for  a  day,  to  be  repeated  over  and  over ; 
and  the  better  she  was  pleased  with  her  conditions, 
the  sadder  was  her  strain.  Now  and  then  her  old 
voice,  weak  and  uncertain,  but  still  unexpectedly 
beautiful,  came  back  again  so  clear  and  true  that  the 
chattering  girls  themselves  were  hushed  into  listen 
ing.  To-day  the  peace  in  her  heart  was  such  that  she 
had  been  singing  over  and  over,  with  plaintive  ca 
dences,  a  most  mournful  quatrain  of  ancient  lines  set  to 
a  still  more  ancient  tune.  It  must  have  touched  the 
chords  of  some  inherited  memory. 


NEWS   AT   THE  LANDING  241 

"  0  Death,  rock  me  asleep  " 

sang  Peggy  dolefully  ;  — 

"  O  Death,  rock  me  asleep, 
Bring1  me  to  quiet  rest ; 
Let  pass  my  weary,  guiltless  ghost 
Out  of  my  care-full  breast !  " 

The  girls  had  seldom  heard  their  old  tyrant  forget 
herself  and  them  so  completely  in  her  singing ;  they 
gave  each  other  a  sympathetic  glance  as  she  con 
tinued  ;  the  noisy  shuttle  subdued  itself  to  the  time 
and  tune,  and  made  a  rude  accompaniment.  One 
might  have  the  same  feeling  in  listening  to  a  thrush 
at  nightfall  as  to  such  a  natural  song  as  this.  At  last 
the  poignancy  of  feeling  grew  too  great  for  even  the 
singer  herself,  and  she  drew  away  from  the  spell  of  the 
music,  as  if  she  approached  too  near  the  sad  reality  of 
its  first  occasion. 

"  My  grandmother  was  said  to  have  the  best  voice 
in  these  Piscataqua  plantations,  when  she  was  young," 
announced  Peggy  with  the  tone  of  a  friend.  "  My 
mother  had  a  pretty  voice,  too,  but  't  was  a  small 
voice,  like  mine.  I  'm  good  as  dumb  beside  either  of 
them,  but  there  is  n't  no  tune  I  ever  heard  that  I  can't 
follow  in  my  own  head  as  true  as  a  bird.  This  one 
was  a  verse  my  grandmother  knew,  —  some  days  I 
think  she  sings  right  on  inside  of  me,  —  but  I  forget 
the  story  of  the  song :  she  knew  the  old  story  of 
everything."  Peggy  was  modest,  but  she  had  held 
her  audience  for  once,  and  knew  it. 

She  stopped  to  tie  a  careful  weaver's  knot  in  the 
warp,  and  adjust  some  difficulty  of  her  pattern. 
Hitty  Warren,  who  was  spinning  by  the  door,  trilled 
out  a  gay  strain,  as  if  by  way  of  relief  to  the  gloom  of 


242  THE  TORY  LOVER 

a  song  which,  however  moving  and  beautiful,  could 
not  fail  to  make  the  heart  grow  sad. 

"  I  have  a  house  and  lands  in  Kent," 

protested  Kitty's  light  young  caroling  voice,  — 

"  And  if  you  '11  love  me,  love  me  now, 
Two  pence  ha'penny  is  my  rent, 

And  I  cannot  come  erery  day  to  woo !  " 

Whereupon  Hannah  Neal  and  Phebe,  who  sang  a 
capital  clear  second,  joined  in  with  approval  and 
alacrity  to  sing  the  chorus  :  — 

"  Two  pence  ha'penny  is  his  rent, 

And  he  cannot  come  every  day  to  woo !  " 

They  kept  it  going  over  and  over,  like  blackbirds, 
and  Peggy  clacked  her  shuttle  in  time  to  this  measure, 
but  she  did  not  offer  to  join  them ;  perhaps  she  had 
felt  some  dim  foreboding  that  her  own  song  com 
forted.  The  air  had  suddenly  grown  full  of  spring 
time  calls  and  cries,  as  if  there  were  some  subtle 
disturbance ;  the  birds  were  in  busy  flight  ;  and  one 
could  hear  faint  shouts  from  the  old  Vineyard  and  the 
neighboring  falls,  where  men  and  boys  were  at  the 
salmon  fishing. 

At  last  the  girls  were  done  singing  ;  they  had  called 
no  audience  out  of  the  empty  green  fields.  They  began 
to  lag  in  their  work,  and  sat  whispering  and  chuck 
ling  a  little  about  their  own  affairs.  Peggy  stopped 
the  loom  and  regarded  them  angrily,  but  they  took  no 
notice.  All  four  had  their  heads  close  together  now 
over  a  piece  of  gossip  ;  she  turned  on  her  narrow  perch 
and  faced  them.  Their  young  hands  were  idle  in  their 
laps. 

"  Go  to  your  wheel,  Hitty  Warren,  and  to  your 
work,  the  pack  of  you !  I  begretch  the  time  you  waste, 


NEWS   AT  THE  LANDING  243 

and  the  meals  you  eat  in  laziness,  you  foolish  hussies  !  " 
cried  Peggy,  with  distinctness.  "  Look  at  the  house 
so  short  of  both  sheeting  and  table  gear  since  the 
colonel  took  his  great  boatload  of  what  we  had  in  use 
to  send  to  the  army  !  If  it  wa'n't  for  me  having  fore 
thought  to  hide  a  couple  o'  heaping  armfuls  of  our 
best  Russian  for  the  canopy  beds,  we  'd  been  bare 
enough,  and  had  to  content  the  gentlefolk  with  un 
bleached  webs.  And  all  our  grand  holland  sheets, 
only  in  wear  four  years,  and  just  coming  to  their  soft 
ness,  all  gone  now  to  be  torn  in  strips  for  them  that 's 
wounded  ;  all  spoilt  like  common  workhouse  stuff  for 
those  that  never  slept  out  o'  their  own  clothes.  'T  was 
a  sad  waste,  but  we  must  work  hard  now  to  plenish 
us,"  she  gravely  reproached  them. 

"  Miss  Mary  is  as  bad  as  the  Colonel,"  insisted 
Hannah  Neal,  the  more  demure  of  the  seamstresses, 
who  had  promptly  fallen  to  work  again.  The  hand 
some  master  of  the  house  could  do  no  wrong  in  the 
eyes  of  his  admiring  maids.  They  missed  his  kind  and 
serious  face,  even  if  sometimes  he  did  not  speak  or 
look  when  he  passed  them  at  their  sewing  or  churning. 

"  A  man  knows  nowt  o'  linen :  he  might  think  a 
gre't  sheet  like  this  sewed  its  whole  long  self  to 
gether,"  said  Phebe  Hodgdon  ruefully,  as  she  pushed 
a  slow  needle  through  the  hard  selvages. 

"  To  work  with  ye !  "  commanded  Peggy  more  firmly. 
"  My  eye  's  upon  ye  !  "  And  Hitty  sighed  loud  and 
drearily ;  the  afternoon  sun  was  hot  in  the  spinning 
room,  and  the  loom  began  its  incessant  noise  again. 

At  that  moment  the  girls  on  the  doorstep  cheerfully 
took  notice  of  two  manly  figures  that  were  coming 
quickly  along  the  footpath  of  the  spring  pasture  next 
above  the  Hamilton  lands  on  the  riverside.  They 


244  THE   TORY  LOVER 

stooped  to  drink  at  the  spring  in  the  pasture  corner, 
and  came  on  together,  until  one  of  them  stood  still 
and  gave  a  loud  cry.  The  two  sewing  girls  beckoned 
their  friends  of  the  spinning  to  behold  this  pleasing 
sight.  Perhaps  some  of  the  lads  they  knew  were 
on  their  way  from  the  Upper  Landing  to  Pound  Hill 
farms ;  these  river  footpaths  had  already  won  some  of 
the  rights  of  immemorial  usage,  and  many  foot  travel 
ers  passed  by  Hamilton's  to  the  lower  part  of  the  town. 
A  man  could  go  on  foot  to  Rice's  Ferry  through  such 
byways  across  field  and  pasture  as  fast  as  a  fleet  horse 
could  travel  by  the  winding  old  Portsmouth  road. 

The  two  hurrying  figures  were  strangers,  and  they 
came  to  the  knoll  above  the  shipyard.  They  were 
both  waving  their  hats  now,  and  shouting  to  the  few 
old  men  at  work  below  on  the  river  bank. 

Peggy  was  only  aware  of  a  daring  persistence  in 
idleness,  and  again  began  to  chide,  just  as  the  eager 
girls  dropped  their  work  and  clattered  down  the  outer 
stair,  and  left  her  bereft  of  any  audience  at  all.  She 
hurried  to  the  door  in  time  to  see  their  petticoats  flutter 
away,  and  then  herself  caught  sight  of  the  excited 
messengers.  There  was  a  noise  of  voices  in  the  dis 
tance,  and  workmen  from  the  wharves  and  warehouses 
were  running  up  the  green  slopes. 

"  There  's  news  come  !  "  exclaimed  Peggy,  forget 
ting  her  own  weaving  as  she  stumbled  over  the  pile  of 
new  linen  on  the  stair  landing,  and  hurried  after  the 
girls.  News  was  apt  to  come  up  the  river  rather  than 
down,  but  there  was  no  time  to  consider.  Some  ill 
might  have  befallen  Colonel  Hamilton  himself,  —  he 
had  been  long  enough  away  ;  and  the  day  before  there 
had  been  rumors  of  great  battles  to  the  southward, 
in  New  Jersey. 


NEWS   AT  THE   LANDING  245 

The  messengers  stood  side  by  side  with  an  air  of 
importance. 

"  Our  side  have  beat  the  British,  but  there 's  a  mort 
o'  men  killed  and  taken.  John  Ricker  's  dead,  and 
John  Marr  and  Billy  Lord 's  among  the  missing,  and 
young  Hodgdon  's  dead,  the  widow's  son  ;  and  there  's 
word  come  to  Dover  that  the  Ranger  has  made  awful 
havoc  along  the  British  coast,  and  sent  a  fortin'  o' 
prizes  back  to  France.  There  's  trouble  'mongst  her 
crew,  and  young  Mr.  Wallingford  's  deserted  after  he 
done  his  best  to  betray  the  ship." 

The  heralds  recited  their  tale  as  they  had  told  it 
over  and  over  at  every  stopping-place  for  miles  back, 
prompting  each  other  at  every  sentence.  From  un 
seen  sources  a  surprising  crowd  of  men  and  women 
had  suddenly  gathered  about  them.  Some  of  these 
wept  aloud  now,  and  others  shouted  their  eager  ques 
tions  louder  and  louder.  It  was  like  a  tiny  babel  that 
had  been  brought  together  by  a  whirlwind  out  of  the 
quiet  air. 

"  They  say  Wallingford  's  tried  to  give  the  Ranger 
into  the  enemy's  hands,  and  got  captured  for  his  pains. 
Some  thinks  they  've  hung  him  for  a  spy.  He  's  been 
watching  his  chance  all  along  to  play  the  traitor,"  said 
one  news-bringer  triumphantly,  as  if  he  had  kept  the 
best  news  till  the  hist. 

"  'T  is  false  !  "  cried  a  clear  young  voice  behind 
them. 

They  turned  to  front  the  unexpected  presence  of 
Miss  Hamilton. 

"  Who  dared  to  say  this  ?  "  She  stood  a  little  be 
yond  the  crowd,  and  looked  with  blazing  eyes  straight 
at  the  two  flushed  faces  of  the  rustic  heralds. 

"  Go  tell  your  sad  news,  if  you  must,"  she    said 


246  THE   TORY  LOVER 

sternly,  "  but  do  not  repeat  that  Roger  Wallingford 
is  a  traitor  to  his  oath.  We  must  all  know  him  better 
who  have  known  him  at  all.  He  may  have  met  mis 
fortune  at  the  hand  of  God,  but  the  crime  of  treach 
ery  has  not  been  his,  and  you  should  know  it,  —  you 
who  speak,  and  every  man  here  who  listens  !  " 

There  fell  a  silence  upon  the  company ;  but  when 
the  young  mistress  turned  away,  there  rose  a  half-un 
willing  murmur  of  applause.  Old  Peggy  hastened  to 
her  side  ;  but  Miss  Hamilton  waved  her  back,  and, 
with  drooping  head  and  a  white  face,  went  on  slowly 
and  passed  alone  into  the  great  house. 

The  messengers  were  impatient  to  go  their  ways 
among  the  Old  Fields  farms,  and  went  hurrying  down 
toward  the  brook  and  round  the  head  of  the  cove,  and 
up  the  hill  again  through  the  oak  pasture  toward  the 
houses  at  Pound  Hill.  They  were  followed  along  the 
footpath  by  men  and  boys,  and  women  too,  who  were 
eager  to  see  how  the  people  there,  old  Widow  Ricker 
especially,  would  take  the  news  of  a  son's  captivity  or 
death.  The  very  torch  of  war  seemed  to  flame  along 
the  footpath,  on  that  spring  afternoon. 

The  makers  of  the  linen  sheets  might  have  been 
the  sewers  of  a  shroud,  as  they  came  ruefully  back  to 
their  places  by  the  spinning-room  door,  and  let  the 
salt  tears  down  fall  upon  their  unwilling  seams.  Poor 
Billy  Lord  and  Humphrey  Hodgdon  were  old  friends, 
and  Corporal  Ricker  was  a  handsome  man,  and  the 
gallant  leader  of  many  a  corn-husking.  The  clack  of 
Peggy's  shuttle  sounded  like  the  ticking  clock  of  Fate. 

"  My  God  !  my  God !  "  said  the  old  woman  who 
had  driven  the  weeping  maids  so  heartlessly  to  their 
work  again.  The  slow  tears  of  age  were  blinding  her 


NEWS  AT  THE  LANDING  247 

own  eyes  ;  she  could  not  see  to  weave,  and  must  fain 
yield  herself  to  idleness.  Those  poor  boys  gone,  and 
Madam's  son  a  prisoner,  or  worse,  in  England !  She 
looked  at  the  house  on  the  other  side  of  the  river, 
dark  and  sombre  against  the  bright  sky.  "  I  '11  go 
and  send  Miss  Mary  over ;  she  should  be  there  now. 
I  '11  go  myself  over  to  Susan." 

"  Fold  up  your  stents ;  for  me,  I  can  weave  no 
more,"  she  said  sorrowfully.  "  'T  is  like  the  day  of  a 
funeral."  And  the  maids,  still  weeping,  put  their 
linen  by,  and  stood  the  two  flax  wheels  in  their  places, 
back  against  the  wall. 


XXIX 

PEGGY   TAKES   THE  AIR 

"  And  now  that  an  over-faint  quietnes 
Should  seem  to  strew  the  house,  —  " 

THAT  evening,  in  Hamilton  House,  Mary  felt  like  a 
creature  caged  against  its  will ;  she  was  full  of  fears 
for  others  and  reproaches  for  herself,  and  went  rest 
lessly  from  window  to  window  and  from  room  to  room. 
There  was  no  doubt  that  a  great  crisis  had  come.  The 
May  sun  set  among  heavy  clouds,  and  the  large  rooms 
grew  dim  and  chilly.  The  house  was  silent,  but  on 
the  river  shores  there  were  groups  of  men  and  boys 
gathering,  and  now  and  then  strange  figures  appeared, 
as  if  the  news  had  brought  them  hastily  from  a  dis 
tance.  Peggy  had  gone  early  across  the  river,  and 
now  returned  late  from  her  friendly  errand,  dressed 
in  a  prim  bonnet  and  cloak  that  were  made  for  Sun 
day  wear,  and  gave  her  the  look  of  a  dignitary  in 
humble  disguise,  so  used  to  command  was  she,  and  so 
equipped  by  nature  for  the  rule  of  others. 

Peggy  found  her  young  mistress  white  and  wan  in 
the  northwest  parlor,  and  knew  that  she  had  been 
anxiously  watching  Madam  Wallingford's  house.  She 
turned  as  the  old  housekeeper  came  in,  and  listened 
with  patience  as,  with  rare  tact,  this  good  creature 
avoided  the  immediate  subject  of  their  thoughts,  and 
at  first  proceeded  to  blame  the  maids  for  running  out 


HAMILTON    HOUSE 


PEGGY  TAKES  THE  AIR  249 

and  leaving  the  doors  flying,  when  she  had  bidden 
them  mind  the  house. 

"  The  twilight  lasts  very  late  to-night ;  you  have 
been  long  away,"  said  Mary,  when  she  had  finished. 

"  'T  is  a  new-moon  night,  and  all  the  sky  is  lit," 
exclaimed  Peggy  seriously.  "  It  will  soon  be  dark 
enough."  Then  she  came  close  to  Mary,  and  began 
to  whisper  what  she  really  had  to  say. 

"  'T  is  the  only  thing  to  do,  as  you  told  me  before 
I  went.  Ca3sar  abased  himself  to  row  me  over,  and 
took  time  enough  about  it,  I  vowed  him.  I  thought 
once  he  'd  fotched  himself  to  the  door  of  an  apoplexy, 
he  puffed  an'  blowed  so  hard ;  but  I  quick  found 
out  what  was  in  his  piecemeal  mind,  before  I  beared 
folks  talking  on  t'  other  bank.  The  great  fightin' 
folks  that  stayed  at  home  from  the  war  is  all  ablaze 
against  Mr.  Roger;  they  say  they  won't  have  no  such 
a  Tory  hive  in  the  neighborhood  no  longer !  '  Poor 
Madam !  poor  Madam  ! '  says  I  in  my  mind,  and  I 
wrung  my  hands  a-hearin'  of  it.  Csesar  felt  bad  when 
he  was  tellin'  of  me,  the  tears  was  a-runnin'  down  his 
foolish  ol'  black  face.  He  's  got  proper  feelings,  if 
be  is  so  consequential.  Likes  to  strut  better 'n  to 
work,  I  tell  'em,  but  he 's  got  his  proper  f  eelin's ;  I 
shan't  never  doubt  that  no  more,"  asserted  Peggy, 
with  emphatic  approval. 

"  Yes,"  assented  Mary  impatiently,  "  CaBsar  is  a 
good  man,  but  he  is  only  one.  What  shall  we  do 
now  ?  "  Her  voice  was  full  of  quivering  appeal ;  she 
had  been  long  alone  with  her  distressful  thoughts. 

Peggy's  cheeks  looked  pink  as  a  girl's  in  her  deep 
bonnet,  and  her  old  eyes  glittered  with  excitement. 

"  You  must  go  straight  away  and  fetch  Madam 
here,"  she  said.  "  I  'd  brought  her  back  with  me  if  it 


250  THE   TORY  LOVER 

had  been  seemly ;  but  when  I  so  advised,  Susan  'd 
hear  none  o'  me,  'count  o'  fearin'  to  alarm  her  lady. 
4  Keep  her  safe  an'  mistaken  for  one  hour,  will  ye, 
so  's  to  scare  her  life  out  later  on  ! '  says  I ;  but 
Susan  was  never  one  to  see  things  their  proper  size 
at  first.  If  they  know  Madam  's  fled,  't  will  be  all  the 
better.  I  want  to  feel  she  's  safe  here,  myself  ;  they 
won't  damage  the  colonel's  house,  for  his  sake  or 
your'n  neither ;  they  'd  know  better  than  to  come 
botherin'  round  my  doors.  I  'd  put  on  my  big  caldron 
and  get  some  water  het,  and  treat  'em  same  fashion  's 
they  did  in  old  Indian  times!  "  cried  Peggy,  in  a  fury. 
"I  did  hear  some  men  say  they  believed  she  'd  gone  to 
Porchmouth  a'ready ;  and  when  they  axed  me  if  't  was 
true,  I  nodded  my  head  and  let  'em  think  so." 

Mary  listened  silently ;  this  excited  talk  made  her 
know  the  truth  of  some  fast-gathering  danger.  She 
herself  had  a  part  to  play  now. 

"  I  shall  go  at  once,"  she  insisted.  "  Will  you  be 
speak  the  boat  ?  " 

"  Everything 's  all  ready,  darlin',"  said  the  good 
soul  affectionately,  as  if  she  wished  to  further  some 
girlish  pleasure.  "  Yes,  I  've  done  all  I  could  out  o' 
door.  The  best  boat 's  out  an'  layin'  aside  the  gre't 
warehouse.  Caesar  's  stopped  down  there  to  mind  it, 
though  he  begun  to  fuss  about  his  supper  ;  and  there  's 
our  own  watermen  ready  to  row  ye  over.  I  told  'em 
you  was  promised  to  the  Miss  Lords  at  the  Upper 
Landing  for  a  card  party ;  I  've  let  on  to  no  uneasi 
ness.  You  '11  consider  well  your  part ;  for  me  there  's 
enough  to  do,  —  the  best  chamber  warmed  aright  for 
Madam,  for  one  thing ;  an'  Phebe  's  up  there  now, 
gettin'  over  a  good  smart  scoldin'  I  give  her.  I  '11 
make  a  nice  gruel  with  raisins  an'  a  taste  o'  brandy, 


PEGGY  TAKES  THE  AIR  251 

or  a  can  o'  mulled  port,  an'  have  'em  ready  ;  't  will 
keep  poor  Madam  from  a  chill.  You  '11  both  need 
comfort  ere  you  sleep,"  she  muttered  to  herself. 

"  I  wonder  if  she  will  consent  to  come  ?  She  is  a 
very  brave  woman,"  said  Mary  doubtfully. 

"  Darlin',  listen  to  me ;  she  must  come,"  replied 
Peggy,  "  an'  you  must  tell  her  so.  You  do  your  part, 
an'  I  '11  be  waitin'  here  till  you  get  back." 

The  large  boat  which  was  Hamilton's  river  coach 
and  four  in  peaceful  times  lay  waiting  in  the  shadow 
of  the  warehouse  to  do  its  errand.  The  pairs  of  row 
ers  were  in  their  places :  Peggy  may  have  had  a  sage 
desire  to  keep  them  out  of  mischief.  They  were  not 
a  vigorous  crew,  by  reason  of  age ;  else  they  would 
have  been,  like  other  good  men,  with  the  army.  "With 
her  usual  sense  of  propriety  and  effect,  Peggy  had 
ordered  out  the  best  red  cushions  and  tasseled  draperies 
for  the  seats.  In  summer,  the  best  boat  spread  a  fine 
red  and  green  canopy  when  it  carried  the  master  and 
mistress  down  to  Portsmouth  on  the  ebb  tide.  The 
old  boatmen  had  mounted  their  liveries,  such  was 
Peggy's  insistence  and  unaccountable  desire  for  dis 
play,  but  a  plainer  craft,  rowed  by  a  single  pair  of 
oars,  was  enough  for  any  errand  at  nightfall,  and  the 
old  fellows  grumbled  and  shivered  ostentatiously  in 
the  spring  dampness. 

Old  Caesar  handed  Miss  Hamilton  to  her  seat 
with  all  the  more  deference.  She  was  wrapped  in  a 
cloak  of  crimson  damask,  with  a  hood  to  it,  which  her 
brother  loved  to  see  her  wear  in  their  gayer  days. 
She  took  her  place  silently  in  the  stern,  and  sat  erect 
there ;  the  men  stole  a  glance  at  her  now  and  then, 
and  tugged  willingly  enough  at  their  oars.  There 


252  THE   TORY  LOVER 

were  many  persons  watching  them  as  they  went  up 
the  stream. 

"  'T  will  be  a  hard  pinch  to  land  ye  proper  at  the 
upper  wharves,"  said  the  head  boatman.  "  The  tide  's 
far  out,  miss." 

"  I  go  to  Madam  Wallingford's,"  said  Mary  ;  and 
in  the  dusk  she  saw  them  cast  sidewise  glances  at  each 
other,  while  their  oars  lost  stroke  and  fouled.  They 
had  thought  it  lucky  that  there  should  be  a  card  party, 
and  their  young  mistress  out  of  sight  and  hearing, 
if  the  threats  meant  anything  and  there  should  be 
trouble  that  night  alongshore.  Miss  Hamilton  said 
nothing  further,  —  she  was  usually  most  friendly  in 
her  speech  with  these  old  servants ;  but  she  thanked 
them  in  a  gentle  tone  as  she  landed,  and  bade  them 
be  ready  at  any  moment  for  her  return.  They  looked 
at  her  with  wonder,  and  swore  under  their  breath  for 
mere  astonishment,  as  she  disappeared  from  their 
sight  with  hurrying  steps,  along  the  winding  way 
that  led  up  to  the  large  house  on  the  hill.  As  Mary 
passed  the  old  boathouse,  and  again  as  she  came  near 
the  storehouses  just  beyond,  she  could  see  shadowy 
moving  figures  like  ghosts,  that  were  gone  again  in  an 
instant  out  of  sight,  crouching  to  the  ground  or  dodg 
ing  behind  the  buildings  as  they  saw  her  pass.  Once 
she  heard  a  voice  close  under  the  bank  below  the  road  ; 
but  it  ceased  suddenly,  as  if  some  one  had  given  warn 
ing.  Every  dark  corner  was  a  hiding  place,  but  the 
girl  felt  no  fear  now  there  was  something  to  be  done. 
There  was  no  light  in  the  lower  story  of  the  great 
house,  but  in  Madam  Wallingford's  chamber  the 
firelight  was  shining,  and  by  turns  it  darkened  and 
brightened  the  windows.  For  the  first  time  Mary 
felt  weak  at  heart,  but  there  was  that  within  her 


PEGGY  TAKES   THE   AIR  253 

which  could  drive  out  all  fear  or  sense  of  danger.  As 
she  stood  on  the  broad  doorsteps,  waiting  and  looking 
river  ward,  she  smiled  to  see  that  Peggy  had  lighted 
their  own  house  as  if  for  some  high  festival.  It  had 
a  look  of  cheerfulness  and  security  there  beyond  the 
elms ;  she  gave  a  sigh  of  relief  that  was  like  a  first 
acknowledgment  of  fear.  She  did  not  remember  that 
one  person  might  have  come  safely  from  the  boat, 
where  two  could  not  go  back. 

Again  she  struck  the  heavy  knocker,  and  this  time 
heard  Rodney's  anxious  voice  within,  whispering  to 
ask  whether  she  were  friend  or  foe  before  he  timidly 
unbarred  the  door. 

"  They  tell  me  there  is  some  danger  of  a  mob,  my 
child."  Madam  Wallingford  spoke  calmly,  as  if  this 
were  some  ordinary  news.  Mary  had  found  her  sit 
ting  by  the  fire,  and  kissed  her  cheek  without  speak 
ing.  The  room  was  so  quiet,  and  its  lady  looked  so 
frail  and  patient,  unconscious  that  danger  already 
hemmed  them  in  on  every  side. 

"  I  fear  that  this  house  may  be  burnt  and  robbed, 
like  the  Salem  houses,"  she  said.  "  Poor  Rodney  and 
the  women  are  afraid,  too.  I  saw  that  they  were  in 
a  great  fright,  and  forced  the  truth  from  them.  I 
think  my  troubles  have  robbed  me  of  all  my  strength. 
I  do  not  know  what  I  must  do.  I  feel  very  old,  Mary, 
and  my  strength  fails  me,"  she  faltered.  "  I  need  my 
son  —  oh,  I  have  had  dreadful  news  "  — 

"  I  have  come  to  take  you  home  with  me  to-night, 
dear,"  answered  Mary.  "  Come,  I  shall  wrap  you  in 
my  warm  red  cloak  ;  the  night  is  chilly.  These  are 
Peggy's  orders,  and  we  must  follow  them.  She  would 
not  have  you  frighted  ever  so  little,  if  there  is  any 


254  THE  TORY  LOVER 

danger.  She  is  making  you  some  hot  drink  this  very 
minute,  and  I  have  brought  our  steady  boat  with  the 
four  old  rowers.  They  are  waiting  for  us  below." 

"  Good  Peggy  !  "  exclaimed  Madam  Wallingford, 
who  saw  the  bright  smile  that  lighted  Mary's  face,  and 
was  now  rallying  all  her  forces.  "  She  was  here  her 
self  this  afternoon  ;  I  wish  that  I  had  seen  her.  We 
shall  not  obey  her  this  once  ;  you  see  that  I  cannot 
go.  If  there  is  an  attack,  I  must  be  here  to  meet  it, 
—  the  men  may  hear  to  reason ;  if  there  is  no  real 
danger,  I  am  safe  to  stay,"  and  she  cast  a  fond  look 
about  the  room. 

Mary  saw  it  with  compassion  ;  at  the  same  moment 
she  heard  cries  outside,  as  if  some  fresh  recruits  were 
welcomed  to  the  gathering  fray. 

"  My  safety  and  the  safety  of  our  house  lies  in  my 
staying  here,"  said  the  lady,  sitting  straight  in  her 
great  chair.  "  I  am  not  easily  made  afraid  ;  it  is  only 
that  my  strength  failed  me  at  the  first.  If  God  sends 
ruin  and  death  this  night,  I  can  but  meet  it.  I  shall 
not  go  away.  You  were  a  dear  child  to  come  ;  you 
must  make  my  kind  excuses  to  Peggy.  Go,  now,  my 
dear,  and  Rodney  shall  put  you  in  your  boat."  There 
was  a  proud  look  on  Madam  Wallingford's  face  as  she 
spoke. 

"  I  shall  stay  with  you,"  answered  Mary.  "  Alas, 
I  think  it  is  too  late  for  either  of  us  to  go,"  she  added, 
as  her  quick  ears  were  aware  of  strange  noises  with 
out  the  house.  There  was  a  sharp  rapping  sound  of 
stones  striking  the  walls,  and  a  pane  of  glass  fell 
shattering  into  the  room. 

"  In  Salem  they  took  an  old  man  from  his  dying 
bed,  and  destroyed  his  habitation.  He  had  been  a 
judge  and  a  good  citizen.  If  these  be  our  own  neigh- 


PEGGY  TAKES   THE  AIR.  255 

bors  who  think  me  dangerous,  I  must  follow  their 
bidding ;  if  they  are  strangers,  we  must  be  in  danger. 
I  wish  that  you  had  not  come,  Mary !  " 

Mary  was  already  at  the  window  ;  the  shutters  were 
pushed  back,  and  the  sweet  night  air  blew  through 
the  broken  pane  upon  her  face.  The  heavy  sliding 
shutter  caught  as  she  tried  to  stir  it,  and  she  saw  that 
the  moving  crowd  had  come  close  about  the  house. 
At  the  sight  of  her  they  gave  an  angry  roar  ;  there 
were  musket  shots  and  a  great  racket  of  noise.  "  Come 
out,  come  out,"  they  cried,  "  and  take  the  oath  !  " 

"  So  the  mob  has  come  already,"  said  Madam 
Wallingford  calmly,  and  rose  from  her  seat.  "  Then 
I  must  go  down.  Is  it  a  great  company  ?  " 

"  I  could  not  have  believed  so  many  men  were  left," 
answered  Mary  bitterly.  "  They  should  be  fighting 
other  battles !  "  she  protested,  trembling  with  sudden 
rage.  "  Where  go  you,  Madam  ?  "  for  Madam  Wal 
lingford  was  hurrying  from  the  room.  As  she  threw 
open  the  door,  ail  the  frightened  people  of  the  house 
hold  were  huddled  close  outside  ;  they  fell  upon  their 
knees  about  her  and  burst  into  loud  lamentations. 
They  pressed  as  near  their  mistress  as  they  could  ;  it 
was  old  Rodney  and  Susan  who  had  kept  the  others 
from  bursting  into  the  room. 

"  Silence  among  ye !  "  said  Madam  Wallingford. 
"  I  shall  do  what  I  can,  my  poor  people.  I  am  going- 
down  to  speak  to  these  foolish  men." 

"  They  have  come  to  rob  us  and  murder  us !  " 
wailed  the  women. 

"  Rodney,  you  will  go  before  me  and  unbar  the 
door  I  "  commanded  the  mistress.  "  Susan  shall  stay 
here.  Quiet  this  childishness  !  I  would  not  have  such 
people  as  these  think  that  we  lack  courage." 


256  THE   TORY  LOVER 

She  went  down  the  wide  staircase  as  if  she  were  a 
queen,  and  Mary  her  maid  of  honor.  Rodney  was 
for  hanging  back  from  those  who  pounded  to  demand 
entrance,  and  needed  an  angry  gesture  before  he  took 
the  great  bar  down  and  flung  the  door  wide  open. 
Then  Madam  Wallingford  stepped  forward  as  if  to 
greet  her  guests  with  dignity,  and  Mary  was  only  a 
step  behind.  There  was  a  bonfire  lit  before  the 
house,  and  all  the  portraits  along  the  paneled  hall 
seemed  to  come  alive  in  the  blazing  light  that  shone 
in,  and  to  stand  behind  the  two  women  like  a  guard. 

"  What  do  you  wish  to  say  to  me  ?  "  asked  Madam 
Wallingford. 

"  The  oath !  the  oath  !  "  they  cried,  "  or  get  you 
hence !  "  and  there  was  a  shaking  of  firebrands,  and 
the  heads  pressed  closer  about  the  door. 

"You  are  Sons  of  Liberty,  and  yet  you  forbid 
liberty  to  others,"  said  the  old  gentlewoman,  in  her 
clear  voice.  "  I  have  wronged  none  of  you."  For 
very  sight  of  her  age  and  bravery,  and  because  she 
was  so  great  a  lady,  they  fell  silent ;  and  then  a  heavy 
stone,  thrown  from  the  edge  of  the  crowd,  struck  the 
lintel  of  the  door,  beside  her. 

"  Is  there  no  man  among  you  whom  you  will  choose 
to  speak  fairly  with  me,  to  tell  your  errand  and  whence 
you  come  ?  " 

"  We  are  some  of  us  from  Christian  Shore,  and 
some  are  Dover  men,  and  some  of  us  are  men  of  your 
own  town,"  answered  a  pale,  elderly  man,  with  the 
face  of  a  fanatic  ;  he  had  been  a  preacher  of  wild 
doctrines  in  the  countryside,  and  was  ever  a  disturber 
of  peace.  "  We  want  no  Eoyalists  among  us,  we 
want  no  abettors  of  George  the  Third  ;  there  's  a  bill 
now  to  proscribe  ye  and  stop  your  luxury  and  pride. 


PEGGY   TAKES  THE   AIR  257 

We  want  no  traitors  and  spies,  neither,  to  betray  the 
cause  of  the  oppressed.  You  and  your  son  have 
played  a  deep  game  ;  he  has  betrayed  our  cause,  and 
the  penalty  must  fall." 

There  was  a  shout  of  approval ;  the  mob  was  only 
too  ready  to  pour  into  the  house. 

"  My  son  has  put  his  name  to  your  oath,  and  you 
should  know  that  he  has  not  broken  it,  if  some  of  you 
are  indeed  men  of  our  own  town,"  said  the  mother 
proudly,  and  they  all  heard  her  speak.  "  I  can  promise 
that  this  is  true.  Cannot  you  wait  to  hear  the  truth 
about  him,  or  is  it  only  to  rob  us  and  make  a  night  of 
revel  you  have  come  ?  Do  not  pay  sin  with  sin,  if  you 
must  hold  those  to  be  sinners  who  are  Loyalists  like 
me!" 

"  Burn  the  old  nest ! "  cried  an  impatient  voice. 
"  She  may  be  hiding  some  King's  men,  —  who  knows  ? 
Stop  her  prating,  and  let 's  to  business ;  we  are  done 
with  their  Royalties,"  and  the  crowd  pushed  hard. 
They  forced  the  two  women  and  old  Rodney  back  into 
the  hall ;  and  at  the  sound  of  heavy  trampling,  all  the 
women  on  the  stair  above  fell  to  shrieking. 

Mary  put  herself  before  Madam  Wallingford  for 
safety's  sake,  and  held  up  her  hand.  "  Stop,  stop  !  "  she 
begged  them.  "  Let  me  first  take  my  friend  away.  I 
am  Mary  Hamilton  of  the  Patriots,  and  you  all  know 
my  brother.  I  ask  you  in  his  name  to  let  us  go  in 
peace." 

Her  sorrowful  face  and  her  beauty  for  one  instant 
held  some  of  them  irresolute,  but  from  the  back  of 
the  crowd  a  great  pressure  urged  the  rest  forward. 
There  was  a  little  hush,  and  one  man  cried,  "  Yes,  let 
them  go  !  "  but  the  wild  and  lawless,  who  were  for 
crowding  in,  would  not  have  it  so.  It  was  a  terrible 


258  THE  TORY  LOVER 

moment,  like  the  sight  of  coming  Death.  There  was 
a  crash  ;  the  women  were  overpowered  and  flung  back 
against  the  wall. 

Suddenly  there  was  a  new  confusion,  a  heavier  din, 
and  some  unexpected  obstacle  to  this  onset ;  all  at 
once  a  loud,  familiar  voice  went  to  Mary's  heart. 
She  was  crouching  with  her  arms  close  about  her  old 
friend,  to  shield  her  from  bruises  and  rough  handling 
as  the  men  pushed  by;  in  the  same  moment  there 
were  loud  outcries  of  alarm  without.  What  happened 
next  in  the  hall  seemed  like  the  hand  of  Heaven  upon 
their  enemies.  Old  Major  Tilly  Haggens  was  there 
in  the  midst,  with  friends  behind  him,  dealing  stout 
blows  among  those  who  would  sack  the  house.  Out 
side  on  their  horses  were  Judge  Chadbourne  and 
General  Goodwin,  who  had  ridden  straight  into  the 
mob,  and  with  them  a  little  troop  of  such  authorities 
as  could  be  gathered,  constables  and  tithing  men  ;  and 
old  Elder  Shackley  in  his  scarlet  cloak ;  Parson  Pike 
and  Mr.  Rollins,  his  chief  parishioner,  were  all  there 
together.  They  rode  among  the  brawling  men  as  if  they 
were  but  bushes,  and  turned  their  good  horses  before 
the  house.  The  crowd  quick  lost  its  solid  look ;  it 
now  had  to  confront  those  who  were  not  defenseless. 

"  We  are  Patriots  and  Sons  of  Liberty,  all  of  us 
who  are  here  !  "  shouted  the  minister,  in  a  fine,  clear 
voice.  "  We  are  none  of  us,  old  or  young,  for  the 
King,  but  we  will  not  see  a  Christian  woman  and  kind 
neighbor  made  to  suffer  in  such  wise  as  this.  Nor 
shall  you  do  vengeance  upon  her  son  until  there  is 
final  proof  of  his  guilt." 

"  We  can  beat  these  old  parsons !  "  shouted  an 
angry  voice.  "  To  it,  lads  !  We  are  three  to  their 
one  !  "  But  the  elderly  men  on  horseback  held  their 
own ;  most  of  them  were  taught  in  the  old  school  of 


PEGGY  TAKES  THE  AIR  259 

fighting,  and  had  their  ancient  swords  well  in  hand, 
ready  for  use  with  all  manly  courage.  Major  Tilly 
Haggens  still  fought  as  a  foot  soldier  in  the  hall ;  his 
famous  iron  fist  was  doing  work  worthy  of  those 
younger  days  when  he  was  called  the  best  boxer  and 
wrestler  in  the  plantations.  He  came  forth  now, 
sweeping  the  most  persistent  before  him  out  of  the 
house. 

"  I  '11  learn  ye  to  strike  a  poor  lame  old  man  like 
me  !  Ye  are  no  honest  Patriots,  but  a  pack  of  thieves 
and  blackguards  !  The  worst  pest  of  these  colonies  !  " 
he  cried,  with  sound  blows  to  right  and  left  for  empha 
sis.  He  laid  out  one  foe  after  another  on  the  soft 
grass  as  on  a  bed,  until  there  was  no  one  left  to  van 
quish,  and  his  own  scant  breath  had  nearly  left  his 
body.  The  trampling  horses  had  helped  their  riders' 
work,  and  were  now  for  neighing  and  rearing  and 
taking  to  their  heels.  The  town  constable  was 
bawling  his  official  threats,  as  he  held  one  of  the 
weaker  assailants  by  the  collar  and  pounded  the  poor 
repentant  creature's  back.  It  had  suddenly  turned  to 
a  scene  of  plain  comedy,  and  the  mob  was  nothing  but 
a  rabble  of  men  and  boys,  all  running  for  shelter, 
such  as  could  still  run,  and  disappearing  down  toward 
the  river  shore. 

The  old  judge  got  stiffly  from  his  tall  Narragansett 
pacer,  and  came  into  the  hall. 

"  Madam  Wallingford's  friends  stop  here  to-night," 
he  told  the  old  servant,  who  appeared  from  some  dark 
corner.  Poor  Rodney  was  changed  to  such  an  ashen 
color  that  he  looked  very  strange,  and  as  if  he  had 
rubbed  phosphorus  to  his  frightened  eyes.  You  may 
tell  your  mistress  and  Miss  Hamilton  that  there  is  no 
more  danger  for  the  present,"  added  the  judge.  "  I 
shall  set  a  watch  about  the  house  till  daylight." 


260  THE  TORY  LOVER 

Major  Haggens  was  panting  for  breath,  and  leaned 
his  great  weight  heavily  against  the  wainscoting.  "  I 
am  near  an  apoplexy,"  he  groaned  faintly.  "  Rodney, 
I  hope  I  killed  some  of  those  divils !  You  may  fetch 
me  a  little  water,  and  qualify  it  with  some  of  Madam's 
French  brandy  of  the  paler  sort.  Stay;  you  can 
help  me  get  to  the  dining  parlor  myself,  and  I  '11  con 
sider  the  spirit-case.  Too  violent  a  portion  would  be 
my  death ;  't  would  make  a  poor  angel  of  me, 
Rodney ! " 

Early  in  the  morning,  Judge  Chadbourne  and  his 
neighbor  Squire  Hill,  a  wise  and  prudent  man,  went 
out  to  take  the  morning  air  before  the  house.  They 
were  presently  summoned  by  Madam  Wallingford,  and 
spoke  with  her  in  her  chamber.  The  broken  glass  of 
the  window  still  glittered  on  the  floor ;  even  at  sun 
rise  the  day  was  so  mild  that  there  was  no  chill,  but  the 
guests  were  struck  by  something  desolate  in  the  room, 
even  before  they  caught  sight  of  their  lady's  face. 

"  I  must  go  away,  my  good  friends,"  she  declared 
quietly,  after  she  had  thanked  them  for  their  service. 
"  I  must  not  put  my  friends  in  peril,"  she  said,  "  but 
I  am  sure  of  your  kind  advice  in  my  sad  situation. 

"  We  wait  upon  you  to  say  that  it  would  be  best, 
Madam,"  said  the  judge  plainly.  "  I  hear  that  New 
Hampshire  as  well  as  Massachusetts  has  in  considera 
tion  an  act  of  great  severity  against  the  presence  or  re 
turn  of  Loyalists,  and  I  fear  that  you  would  run  too 
much  risk  by  staying  here.  If  you  should  be  pro 
scribed  and  your  estates  confiscated,  as  I  fear  may  be 
done  in  any  case,  you  are  putting  your  son's  welfare  in 
peril  as  well  as  your  own.  If  he  be  still  living  now, 
though  misfortunes  have  overtaken  him,  and  he  has 


PEGGY  TAKES  THE  AIR  261 

kept  faith,  as  we  who  know  him  must  still  believe,  these 
estates  which  you  hold  for  him  in  trust  are  not  in  dan 
ger  ;  if  the  facts  are  otherwise  "  —  and  the  old  justice 
looked  at  her,  but  could  not  find  it  in  his  heart  to  go  on. 

Madam  Wallingford  sat  pondering  the  matter  with 
her  eyes  fixed  upon  his  face,  and  was  for  some  time 
lost  in  the  gravest  thoughts. 

"  What  is  this  oath?"  she  asked  at  last,  and  her 
cheeks  whitened  as  she  put  the  question. 

The  judge  turned  to  Mr.  Hill,  and,  without  speaking, 
that  gentleman  took  a  folded  paper  from  among  some 
documents  which  he  wore  in  his  pocket,  and  rose  to 
hand  it  to  the  lady. 

"Will  you  read  it  to  me?"  she  asked  again;  and 
he  read  the  familiar  oath  of  allegiance  in  a  steady  voice, 
and  not  without  approval  in  his  tone  :  — 

"  I  do  acknowledge  the  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMER 
ICA  to  be  free,  independent ;  and  sovereign  states,  and 
declare  that  the  people  thereof  owe  no  allegiance  or 
obedience  to  GEORGE  THE  THIRD,  KING  OF  GREAT 
BRITAIN  ;  and  I  renounce,  refuse,  and  abjure  any  alle 
giance  or  obedience  to  him ;  and  I  do  swear  that  I 
will,  to  the  utmost  of  my  power,  support,  maintain,  and 
defend  the  said  UNITED  STATES  against  the  said  KING 
GEORGE  THE  THIRD,  his  heirs  and  successors,  and  his 
or  their  abettors,  assistants,  and  adherents,  and  will 
serve  the  said  United  States  in  the  office  .  .  .  which  I 
now  hold,  with  fidelity,  according  to  the  best  of  my 
skill  and  understanding." 

As  he  finished  he  looked  at  the  listener  for  assent, 
as  was  his  habit,  and  Judge  Chadbourne  half  rose  in 
his  eagerness ;  everything  was  so  simple  and  so  easy 
if  she  would  take  the  oath.  She  was  but  a  woman,  — 
the  oath  was  made  for  men  ;  but  she  was  a  great  land- 


262  THE  TORY  LOVER 

h'older,  and  all  the  country  looked  to  her.  She  was 
the  almoner  of  her  own  wealth  and  her  husband's,  and 
it  were  better  i£  she  stood  here  in  her  lot  and  place. 

"  I  cannot  sign  this,"  she  said  abruptly.  "  Is  this 
the  oath  that  Roger,  my  son,  has  taken  ?  " 

"  The  same,  Madam,"  answered  Mr.  Hill,  with  a 
disappointed  look  upon  his  face,  and  there  was  silence 
in  the  room. 

"  I  must  make  me  ready  to  go,"  said  Madam  Wal- 
lingford  at  last,  and  the  tears  stood  deep  in  her  eyes. 
"  But  if  my  son  gave  his  word,  he  will  keep  his  word. 
I  shall  leave  my  trust  and  all  our  fortunes  in  your 
hands,  and  you  may  choose  some  worthy  gentlemen  from 
this  side  of  the  river  to  stand  with  you.  The  papers 
must  be  drawn  in  Portsmouth.  I  shall  send  a  rider 
down  at  once  with  a  message,  and  by  night  I  shall  be 
ready  to  go  myself  to  town.  I  must  ask  if  you  and 
your  colleagues  will  meet  me  there  at  my  house.  .  .  . 
You  must  both  carry  my  kind  farewells  to  my  Barvick 
friends.  As  for  me,"  —  and  her  voice  broke  for  the 
first  time,  —  "I  am  but  a  poor  remainder  of  the  past 
that  cannot  stand  against  a  mighty  current  of  change. 
I  knew  last  night  that  it  would  come  to  this.  I  am 
an  old  woman  to  be  turned  out  of  my  home,  and  yet  I 
tell  you  the  truth,  that  I  go  gladly,  since  the  only 
thing  I  can  hope  for  now  is  to  find  my  son.  You  see 
I  am  grown  frail  and  old,  but  there  is  something  in 
my  heart  that  makes  me  hope.  ...  I  have  no  trace 
of  my  son,  but  he  was  left  near  to  death,  and  must  now 
be  among  enemies  by  reason  of  having  been  upon  the 
ship.  No,  no,  I  shall  not  sign  your  oath ;  take  it  away 
with  you, good  friends!  "  she  cried  bitterly.  Then  she 
put  out  her  weak  hands  to  them,  and  a  pathetic,  broken 
look  came  upon  her  face. 


PEGGY  TAKES  THE  AIR  263 

"  'T  was  most  brotherly,  what  you  did  for  me  last 
night.  You  must  thank  the  other  good  men  who  were 
with  you.  I  ask  your  affectionate  remembrance  in 
the  sad  days  that  come  ;  you  shall  never  fail  of  my 
prayers." 

And  so  they  left  her  standing  in  the  early  sunshine 
of  her  chamber,  and  went  away  sorrowful. 

An  hour  later  Mary  Hamilton  came  in,  bright  and 
young.  She  was  dressed  and  ready  to  go  home,  and 
came  to  stand  by  her  old  friend,  who  was  already  at 
her  business,  with  many  papers  spread  about. 

"  Mary,  my  child,"  said  Madam  Wallingford,  tak 
ing  her  hand  and  trembling  a  little,  "  I  am  going  away. 
There  is  new  trouble,  and  I  have  no  choice.  You  must 
stay  with  me  this  last  day  and  help  me  ;  I  have  no 
one  to  look  to  but  you»" 

"  But  you  can  look  to  me,  dear  lady."  Mary  spoke 
cheerfully,  not  understanding  to  the  full,  yet  being 
sure  that  she  should  fail  in  no  service.  There  was  a 
noble  pride  of  courage  in  her  heart,  a  gratitude  because 
they  were  both  safe  and  well,  and  the  spring  sun  shin 
ing,  after  such  a  night.  God  gives  nothing  better 
than  the  power  to  serve  those  whom  we  love  ;  the  bit 
terest  pain  is  to  be  useless,  to  know  that  we  fail  to  carry 
to  their  lives  what  their  dear  presence  brings  to  our 
own.  Mary  laid  her  hand  on  her  friend's  shoulder. 
"  Can  I  write  for  you  just  now  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  I  am  going  to  England,"  explained  Madam  Wal 
lingford  quietly.  "  Judge  Chadbourne  and  Mr.  Hill 
have  both  told  me  that  I  must  go  away.  I  shall  speak 
only  of  Halifax  to  my  household,  but  my  heart  is  full 
of  the  thought  of  England,  where  I  must  find  my  poor 
son.  I  should  die  of  even  a  month's  waiting  and  uncer- 


264  THE   TORY  LOVER 

tainty  here ;  it  seems  a  lifetime  since  the  news  came 
yesterday.  I  must  go  to  find  Roger  ! ' 

All  the  bright,  determined  eagerness  forsook  Mary 
Hamilton's  face.  It  was  not  that  the  thought  of  exile 
was  new  or  strange,  but  this  poor  wistful  figure  before 
her,  with  its  frayed  thread  of  vitality  and  thin  shoulders 
bent  down  as  if  with  a  weight  of  sorrow,  seemed  to  for 
bid  even  the  hard  risks  of  seafaring.  The  girl  gave 
a  cry  of  protest,  as  if  she  felt  the  sharp  pain  of  a  sud 
den  blow. 

"  I  have  always  been  well  enough  on  the  sea.  I  do 
not  dread  the  voyage  so  much.  I  am  a  good  sailor," 
insisted  Madam  Wallingford,  with  a  smile,  as  if  she 
must  comfort  a  weaker  heart  than  her  own.  "  My 
plans  are  easily  made,  as  it  happens  ;  one  of  my  own 
vessels  was  about  to  sail  for  West  Indian  ports.  It  was 
thought  a  useless  venture  by  many,  but  the  captain  is 
an  impatient  soul,  and  an  excellent  seaman.  He  shall 
take  us  to  Halifax,  Susan  and  me.  I  thought  at  first 
to  go  alone  ;  but  Susan  has  been  long  with  me,  and 
can  be  of  great  use  when  we  are  once  ashore.  She  is 
in  sad  estate  on  the  ocean,  poor  creature,  and  when  we 
went  last  to  Virginia  I  thought  never  to  distress  her 
so  much  again." 

There  was  a  shining  light  on  the  girl's  face  as  she 
listened. 

"  I  shall  go  with  you,  not  Susan,"  she  said.  "  Even 
with  her  it  would  be  like  letting  you  go  alone.  I  am 
strong,  and  a  good  sailor  too.  We  must  leave  her  here 
to  take  care  of  your  house,  as  I  shall  leave  Peggy." 

Madam  Wallingford  looked  at  Mary  Hamilton  with 
deep  love,  but  she  lifted  her  hand  forbiddingly. 

"  No,  no,  dear  child,"  she  whispered.  "  I  shall  not 
think  of  it." 


PEGGY  TAKES  THE  AIR  2C5 

"  There  may  be  better  news,"  said  Mary  hopefully. 

44  There  will  be  no  news,  and  I  grudge  every  hour 
that  is  wasted,"  said  the  mother,  with  strange  fretful- 
ness.  "  I  have  friends  in  England,  as  you  know.  If 
I  once  reach  an  English  port,  the  way  will  be  easy. 
When  prison  doors  shut  they  do  not  open  of  themselves, 
in  these  days,  but  I  have  some  friends  in  mind  who 
would  have  power  to  help  me.  I  shall  take  passage 
from  Hajifax  for  Bristol,  if  I  can ;  if  no  better  vessel 
offers,  I  shall  push  on  in  the  Golden  Dolphin  rather 
than  court  delay." 

Mary  stood  smiling  into  her  face. 

"  No,  no,  my  dear,"  said  Madam  AVallingford  again, 
and  drew  the  girl  closer.  "  I  cannot  let  you  think  of 
such  a  thing.  Your  young  heart  speaks  now,  and  not 
your  wise  reflection.  For  your  brother's  sake  I  could 
not  let  you  go,  still  less  for  your  own  ;  it  would  make 
you  seem  a  traitor  to  your  cause.  You  must  stand 
in  your  own  place." 

"  My  brother  is  away  with  his  troop.  He  begged 
me  to  leave  everything  here,  and  go  farther  up  the 
country.  The  burning  of  Falmouth  made  him  uneasy, 
and  ever  since  he  does  not  like  my  staying  alone  in 
our  house,"  insisted  Mary. 

"  There  is  knowledge  enough  of  the  riches  of  this 
river,  among  seamen  of  the  English  ports,"  acknow 
ledged  Madam  Wallingford.  "  In  Portsmouth  there 
are  many  friends  of  England  who  will  not  be  molested, 
though  all  our  leaders  are  gone.  Still  I  know  that 
an  attack  upon  our  region  has  long  been  feared,"  she 
ended  wistfully. 

"  I  told  my  brother  that  I  should  not  leave  home 
until  there  was  really  such  danger ;  we  should  always 
have  warning  if  the  enemy  came  on  the  coast.  If 


266  THE  TORY  LOVER 

they  burnt  our  house  or  plundered  it,  then  I  should 
go  farther  up  the  country.  I  told  Jack,"  continued 
Mary,  with  flushing  cheeks,  "  that  I  did  not  mean  to 
leave  you ;  and  he  knew  I  meant  it,  but  he  was  inu 
patient,  too.  '  I  have  well-grown  timber  that  will  build 
a  hundred  houses,'  he  answered  me,  and  was  rough- 
spoken  as  to  the  house,  much  as  he  loves  it,  —  '  but  I 
shall  not  have  one  moment's  peace  while  I  think  you 
are  here  alone.  Yet,  you  must  always  look  to  Madam 
Wallingford,'  he  said  more  than  once." 

"  Go  now,  my  dear  child ;  send  me  Susan,  who  is  no 
doubt  dallying  in  the  kitchen !  "  commanded  the  mis 
tress  abruptly.  "  I  must  not  lose  a  minute  of  this 
day.  You  must  do  as  your  brother  bade  you  ;  but  as 
for  doing  the  thing  which  would  vex  him  above  every 
thing  else,  —  I  cannot  listen  to  more  words.  I  see 
that  you  are  for  going  home  this  morning ;  can  you 
soon  return  to  me,  when  you  have  ordered  your  affairs  ? 
You  can  help  me  in  many  small  matters,  and  we  shall 
be  together  to  the  last.  I  could  not  take  you  with 
me,  darling,"  she  said  affectionately.  "  'T  was  my 
love  for  you  —  no,  I  ought  to  say  't  was  my  own  poor 
selfishness  —  that  tempted  my  heart  for  the  moment. 
Now  we  must  think  of  it  no  more,  either  of  us.  You 
have  no  fellowship  with  those  to  whom  I  go ;  you  are 
no  Loyalist,"  and  she  even  smiled  as  she  spoke. 
"  God  bless  you  for  such  dear  kindness,  Mary.  I 
think  I  love  you  far  too  much  to  let  you  go  with  me." 

Mary's  face  was  turned  away,  and  she  made  no 
answer ;  then  she  left  her  friend's  side,  wondering 
at  the  firm  decision  and  strong  authority  which  had 
returned  in  this  time  of  sorrow  and  danger.  It 
frightened  her,  this  flaring  up  of  what  had  seemed 
such  a  failing  light  of  life.  It  was  perhaps  wasting 
to  no  purpose  the  little  strength  that  remained. 


PEGGY  TAKES   THE  AIR  267 

She  stood  at  the  window  to  look  down  the  river,  and 
saw  the  trampled  ground  below ;  it  seemed  as  if  the 
last  night's  peril  were  but  the  peril  of  a  dream.  The 
fruit-trees  were  coming  into  bloom :  a  young  cherry- 
tree,  not  far  away,  was  white  like  a  little  bride,  and 
the  pear-trees  were  ready  to  follow ;  their  buds  were 
big,  and  the  white  petals  showing.  It  was  high  water ; 
the  tide  had  just  turned  toward  the  ebb,  and  there 
were  boats  going  down  the  river  to  Portsmouth,  in  the 
usual  fashion,  to  return  with  the  flood.  There  was  a 
large  gundalow  among  them,  with  its  tall  lateen  sail 
curved  to  the  morning  breeze.  Of  late  the  river  had 
sometimes  looked  forsaken,  so  many  men  were  gone  to 
war,  and  this  year  the  fields  would  again  be  half  tilled 
at  best,  by  boys  and  women.  To  country  eyes,  there 
was  a  piteous  lack  of  the  pleasant  hopefulness  of  new- 
ploughed  land  on  the  river  farms. 

"  There  are  many  boats  going  down  to-day,"  re 
ported  Mary,  in  her  usual  tone  ;  "  they  will  be  for  tell 
ing  the  news  of  last  night  at  the  wharves  in  Ports 
mouth.  There  will  be  a  fine,  busy  crowd  on  the 
Parade." 

Then  she  sighed  heavily ;  she  was  in  the  valley  of 
decision ;  she  felt  as  if  she  were  near  to  tearing  her 
self  from  this  dear  landscape  and  from  home,  —  that 
she  was  on  the  brink  of  a  great  change.  She  could 
not  but  shrink  from  such  a  change  and  loss. 

She  returned  from  her  outlook  to  Madam  Walling- 
ford's  side. 

"  I  must  not  interrupt  your  business.  I  will  not 
press  you,  either,  against  your  will.  I  shall  soon 
come  back,  and  then  you  will  let  me  help  you  and  stay 
with  you,  as  you  said.  "When  will  your  brig  be 
ready?" 

"  She  is  ready  to  sail  now,  and  only  waits  her  clear- 


268  THE  TORY  LOVER 

ance  papers  ;  the  captain  was  here  yesterday  morning. 
She  is  the  Golden  Dolphin,  as  I  have  already  told 
you,  and  has  often  lain  here  at  our  river  wharves ;  a 
very  good,  clean  vessel,  with  two  lodgings  for  pas 
sengers.  I  have  sent  word  that  I  shall  come  on  board 
to-morrow;  she  waits  in  the  stream  by  Badger's 
Island." 

"  And  you  must  go  from  here  "  — 

"  To-night.  I  have  already  ordered  my  provision 
for  the  voyage.  Rodney  went  down  on  the  gundalow 
before  you  were  awake,  and  he  will  know  very  well 
what  to  do ;  this  afternoon  I  shall  send  many  other 
things  by  boat." 

"  I  was  awake,"  said  Mary  softly,  "  but  I  hoped  that 
you  were  resting  "  — 

"  If  the  seas  are  calm,  as  may  happen,  I  shall  not 
go  to  Halifax,"  confessed  the  other  ;  "  I  shall  push  on 
for  Bristol.  Our  cousin  Davis  is  there,  and  the  Rus- 
sells,  and  many  other  friends.  The  brig  is  timber- 
laden  ;  if  we  should  be  captured  " 

"  By  which  side  ?  "  laughed  Mary,  and  a  sad  gleam 
of  answering  humor  flitted  over  Madam  Wallingf ord's 
face. 

"  Oh,  we  forget  that  my  poor  child  may  be  dead 
already !  "  she  cried,  with  sharp  agony,  next  moment. 
"  I  think  and  think  of  his  hurting  wounds.  No  pity 
will  be  shown  a  man  whom  they  take  to  be  a  spy !  " 
and  she  was  shaken  by  a  most  piteous  outburst  of 
tears. 

Then  Mary,  as  if  the  heart  in  her  own  young  breast 
were  made  of  love  alone,  tried  to  comfort  Madam 
Wallingford.  It  was  neither  the  first  time  nor  the 
last. 


XXX 

MADAM   GOES   TO    SEA 
"  The  paths  to  a  true  friend  lie  direct,  though  he  be  far  away." 

THE  bright  day  had  clouded  over,  and  come  to  a 
wet  and  windy  spring  night.  It  was  past  eight  o'clock  ; 
the  darkness  had  early  fallen.  There  was  a  sense  of 
comfort  in  a  dry  roof  and  warm  shelter,  as  if  it  were 
winter  weather,  and  Master  Sullivan  and  old  Margery 
had  drawn  close  to  their  warm  fireplace.  The  master 
was  in  a  gay  mood  and  talkative,  and  his  wife  was  at 
her  usual  business  of  spinning,  stepping  to  and  fro  at 
a  large  whirring  wheel.  To  spin  soft  wool  was  a  better 
trade  for  evening  than  the  clacking  insistence  of  the 
little  wheel  with  its  more  demanding  flax.  Margery 
was  in  her  best  mood,  and  made  a  most  receptive  and 
admiring  audience. 

"  Well,  may  God  keep  us !  "  she  exclaimed,  at  the 
end  of  a  story.  "  'T  was  as  big  a  row  as  when  the 
galleries  fell  in  Smock  Alley  theatre.  I  often  heard 
of  that  from  my  poor  father." 

Master  Sullivan  was  pleased  with  his  success ;  Mar 
gery  was  not  always  so  easy  to  amuse,  but  he  was  in 
no  mind  for  a  conflict.  Something  had  made  his  heart 
ache  that  day,  and  now  her  love  and  approval  easily 
rescued  him  from  his  own  thought;  so  he  went  on,  as 
if  his  fortunes  depended  upon  Margery's  favor  and 
frankly  expressed  amusement. 


270  THE   TORY  LOVER 

"  One  night  there  was  a  long-legged  apprentice  boy 
to  a  French  upholsterer ;  this  was  in  London,  and  I 
a  lad  myself  stolen  over  there  from  Paris  with  a  mes 
sage  for  Charles  Radcliffe.  He  had  great  leanings 
toward  the  stage,  this  poor  boy,  and  for  the  pride  of 
his  heart  got  the  chance  to  play  the  ghost  in  Hamlet 
at  Co  vent  Garden.  Well,  it  was  then  indeed  you 
might  see  him  at  the  heighth  of  life  and  parading  in 
his  pasteboard  armor.  4  Mark  me  ! '  says  he,  with  a 
voice  as  if  you'd  thump  the  sides  of  a  cask.  ' I'll 
mark  you ! '  cries  his  master  from  the  pit,  and  he 
le'pt  on  the  stage  and  was  after  the  boy  to  kill  him  ; 
and  all  the  lads  were  there  le'pt  after  him  to  take  his 
part ;  and  they  held  off  the  master,  and  set  the  ghost 
in  his  place  again,  the  poor  fellow  ;  and  they  said  he 
did  his  part  fine,  and  creeped  every  skin  that  was 
there.  He  'd  a  great  night ;  never  mind  the  beating 
that  fell  to  him  afterward  !  " 

The  delighted  listener  shook  with  silent  laughter. 

"  'T  was  like  the  time  poor  Denny  Delane  was  in 
Dublin.  I  was  there  but  the  one  winter  myself," 
continued  the  master.  "  He  came  of  a  fine  family, 
but  got  stage-struck,  and  left  Trinity  College  behind 
him  like  a  last  year's  bird's  nest.  Every  woman  in 
Dublin,  old  and  young,  was  crazy  after  him.  There 
were  plays  bespoke,  and  the  fashion  there  every  night, 
all  sparked  with  diamonds,  and  every  officer  in  his 
fine  uniform.  There  was  great  dressing  with  the  men 
as  you  'd  never  see  them  now :  my  Lord  Howth  got 
a  fancy  he  'd  dress  like  a  coachman,  wig  and  all ;  and 
Lord  Trimlestown  was  always  in  scarlet  when  he  went 
abroad,  and  my  Lord  Gormanstown  in  blue.  Oh,  but 
they  were  the  pictures  coming  in  their  coaches  !  You 
would  n't  see  any  officer  out  of  his  uniform,  or  a  doc- 


MADAM  GOES  TO   SEA  271 

tor  wanting  his  lace  ruffles  !  'T  was  my  foolish  young 
self  borrowed  all  the  lace  from  my  poor  mother  that 
she  'd  lend  me,  and  I  but  a  boy  ;  and  then  I  'd  go 
help  myself  out  of  her  boxes,  when  she  'd  gone  to 
mass.  She  'd  a  great  deal  of  beautiful  lace,  and  knew 
every  thread  of  it  by  heart.  I  've  a  little  piece  yet 
that  was  sewed  under  a  waistcoat.  Go  get  it  now,  and 
we  '11  look  at  it ;  't  is  laid  safe  in  that  second  book 
from  the  end  of  the  shelf.  You  may  give  it  to  the 
little  lady,  when  I  'in  gone,  for  a  remembrance  ;  't  is 
the  only  —  ah,  well ;  I  've  nothing  else  in  the  world 
but  my  own  poor  self  that  ever  belonged  to  my  dear 
mother  !  " 

The  old  master's  voice  grew  very  sad,  and  all  his 
gayety  was  gone. 

"  'Deed,  then,  Miss  Mary  Hamilton  '11  get  none  of 
it,  and  you  having  a  daughter  of  your  own  !  "  scolded 
Margery,  instantly  grown  as  fierce  as  he  was  sad. 
Sometimes  the  only  way  to  cure  the  master  of  his 
dark  sorrows  was  to  make  him  soothe  her  own  anger. 
But  this  night  he  did  not  laugh  at  her,  though  she 
quarreled  with  fine  determination. 

"  Oh  me  !  "  groaned  the  master.  "  Oh  me,  the 
fool  I  was  !  "  and  he  struck  his  knee  with  a  hopeless 
hand,  as  he  sat  before  the  fire. 

"  God  be  good  to  us ! "  mourned  old  Margery, 
"  and  I  a  lone  child  sent  to  a  strange  country  without 
a  friend  to  look  to  me,  and  yourself  taking  notice  of 
me  on  the  ship  ;  't  was  the  King  I  thought  you  were, 
and  you  'd  rob  me  now  of  all  that.  Well,  I  was  no  fit 
wife  for  a  great  gentleman  ;  I  always  said  it,  too.  I 
loved  you  as  I  don't  know  how  to  love  my  God,  but  I 
must  ask  for  nothing !  " 

The  evening's  pleasure  was  broken ;    the   master 


272  THE  TORY  LOVER 

could  bear  anything  better  than  her  poor  whimpering 
voice. 

"  You  look  at  a  poor  man  as  if  he  were  the  front  of 
a  cathedral,"  he  chided  her,  again  trying  to  be  merry. 
But  at  this  moment  they  were  both  startled  into 
silence ;  they  both  heard  the  heavy  tread  of  horses 
before  the  house. 

"  Come  in,  come  in,  whoever  you  are ! "  shouted 
Master  Sullivan,  as  he  threw  open  the  outer  door. 
"  Are  ye  lost  on  the  road,  that  ye  seek  light  and 
lodging  here?" 

The  horses  would  not  stand  ;  the  night  was  dark  as 
a  dungeon ;  the  heavy  rain  blew  in  the  old  man's 
face.  His  heart  beat  fast  at  the  sound  of  a  woman's 
voice. 

"  By  great  Jupiter,  and  all  the  gods  !  what  has 
brought  you  here,  Mary  Hamilton,  my  dear  child  ?  " 
he  cried.  "  Is  there  some  attack  upon  the  coast  ? 
'T  is  the  hand  of  war  or  death  has  struck  you !  " 

The  firelight  shone  upon  Mary's  face  as  she  entered, 
but  the  wind  and  rain  had  left  no  color  there ;  it  was 
a  wan  face,  that  masked  some  high  resolve,  and  for 
bade  either  comment  or  contradiction.  She  took  the 
chair  to  which  the  master  led  her,  and  drew  a  long 
breath,  as  if  to  assure  herself  of  some  steadiness  of 
speech. 

A  moment  later,  her  faithful  friend,  Mr.  John 
Lord,  opened  the  door  softly,  and  came  in  also.  His 
eyes  looked  troubled,  but  he  said  nothing  as  he  stood 
a  little  way  behind  the  others  in  the  low  room ;  the 
rain  dropped  heavily  from  his  long  coat  to  the  floor. 
The  Sullivans  stood  at  either  side  the  fireplace  watch 
ing  the  pale  lady  who  was  their  guest.  John  Sullivan 
himself  it  was  who  unclasped  her  wet  riding  cloak  and 


MADAM  GOES  TO   SEA  273 

threw  it  back  upon  the  chair ;  within  she  wore  a  pretty 
gown  of  soft  crimson  silk  with  a  golden  thread  in  it, 
that  had  come  home  in  one  of  her  brother's  ships  from 
Holland.  The  rain  had  stained  the  breast  of  it  where 
the  riding  cloak  had  blown  apart ;  the  strange  living 
dyes  of  the  East  were  brightened  by  the  wet.  The 
two  old  people  started  back,  they  believed  that  she 
had  sought  them  because  she  was  hurt  to  death.  She 
lifted  her  hand  forbiddingly ;  her  face  grew  like  a 
child's  that  was  striving  against  tears. 

"  Dear  friends,  it  is  not  so  bad  as  you  think ;  it  is 
because  I  am  so  full  of  hope  that  I  have  come  to 
you,"  she  said  to  the  anxious,  kind  old  faces.  There 
was  such  a  sweetness  in  the  girl's  voice,  and  her  beau 
tiful  dress  was  so  familiar,  so  belonging  to  the  old 
quiet  times  and  happy  hospitalities,  that  the  two  men 
felt  a  sharp  pain  of  pity,  and  because  there  was 
nothing  else  to  do  they  came  nearer  to  her  side. 
Master  Sullivan  looked  questioningly  at  young  Mr. 
Lord,  but  old  Margery  found  instinctive  relief  in  a 
low,  droning  sort  of  moan,  which  sometimes  lifted  into 
that  Irish  keening  which  is  the  voice  of  fear  and  sor 
row.  She  was  piling  all  her  evening  fagots  at  once 
upon  the  fire. 

"  Speak  now !  "  said  the  master.  "  If  my  old 
heart  knows  the  worst,  it  can  begin  to  hope  the  best. 
What  is  it  that  could  not  wait  for  the  morning  of 
such  a  night  as  this  ?  " 

"  There  is  bad  news,"  replied  Mary ;  "  there  are 
letters  come  from  the  Eanger.  They  have  attacked  a 
large  seaport  town  on  the  coast  of  England,  and  spread 
great  alarm,  though  their  chief  projects  were  balked. 
They  have  fought  with  an  English  frigate  in  the  Irish 
Sea,  and  taken  her  captive  with  some  rich  prizes. 


274  THE  TORY  LOVER 

Roger  Wallingford  was  left  ashore  in  Whitehaven. 
They  believe  on  the  ship  that  he  tried  to  betray  his 
companions  and  warned  the  town ;  but  he  was  badly 
wounded  ashore,  and  thrown  into  prison.  There  is  a 
great  rising  of  the  Patriots  against  Madam  Walling 
ford,  who  is  warned  to  leave  the  country.  They 
threatened  her  very  life  last  night."  Mary  was  stand 
ing  now,  and  the  quick  firelight,  sprung  afresh,  made 
her  look  like  a  bright  flame.  The  master  made  a 
strange  outcry,  like  a  call  for  hidden  help,  and  looked 
hastily  at  the  walls  of  the  room  about  him,  as  if  he 
sought  some  old  familiar  weapons. 

"  I  am  going  away  with  her  for  a  time,"  said  Mary, 
speaking  now  without  any  strain  or  quiver  in  her 
voice.  "  My  brother  does  not  need  me,  since  he  is 
with  the  army,  and  Mr.  Lord  knows  our  business 
here,  if  any  be  left.  Peggy  can  stand  bravely  for  me 
in  the  house.  Dear  master !  "  and  she  came  close  to 
the  old  man's  side  ;  her  young  slender  body  was  al 
most  as  tall  as  his ;  she  put  her  arm  about  his  neck 
and  drew  down  his  head  so  that  he  must  look  into  her 
upturned  face.  "  Dear  master,"  she  said,  in  a  low 
voice,  "  you  told  me  once  that  you  still  had  friends  in 
England,  if  the  worst  should  come  to  Roger,  and  I 
think  now  that  the  worst  has  come." 

"You  may  bring  the  horses  at  once,"  said  the  mas 
ter,  turning  quickly  to  Mr.  Lord.  "  Stay,  Margery ; 
you  must  light  your  old  lantern  and  give  it  him ;  and 
I  would  wrap  you  well  and  hold  it  for  him  to  rub  them 
off  with  a  wisp  of  thatch,  and  let  them  have  a  mouth 
ful  of  corn  to  satisfy  their  minds." 

Mary  felt  for  that  one  moment  as  if  Hope  were  like 
an  old  frail  friend  with  eyes  of  living  fire ;  she  had 
known  no  other  father  than  the  master,  when  all  was 


MADAM  GOES  TO   SEA  275 

said.  He  put  her  hand  gently  away  from  its  un 
conscious  clinging  hold  of  his  shoulder,  and,  with  a 
woman's  care,  took  the  wet  cloak,  as  he  placed  her 
again  in  his  own  chair,  and  spread  its  dry  inner  folds 
to  the  fire,  so  that  they  might  warm  a  little. 

Then,  without  speaking,  he  went  to  the  shelf  of 
books,  and  took  from  one  of  them  a  thin  packet  of 
papers. 

"  I  am  an  old  man,"  he  said  gently.  "  I  have  been 
fearful  of  all  this,  and  I  made  ready  these  things, 
since  it  might  some  day  please  God  to  let  me  die.  I 
have  heard  of  the  fray  last  night,  but  you  will  find 
letters  here  that  will  be  of  service.  Conie,  warm  you 
now  by  the  fire,  and  put  them  in  the  bosom  of  your 
gown.  I  think  you  will  find  them  something  worth ; 
but  if  you  keep  their  words  in  your  heart  or  near  it, 
't  will  be  far  the  best.  And  burn  them  quick  if  there 
is  need ;  but  you  shall  read  them  first,  and  send  their 
messages  by  word  of  mouth,  if  need  be.  Listen  to 
me  now ;  there  are  a  few  things  left  for  me  to  say." 

The  girl's  face  was  full  of  a  sweet  relief ;  she  did 
not  thank  him,  save  with  one  long  look,  and  put  the 
packet  where  he  had  bidden  her.  She  looked  into  the 
fire  as  she  listened  to  his  counsels,  and  suddenly  was 
afraid  of  tears,  the  errand  being  safely  done. 

"  Forgive  me,  sir,  for  this  new  trouble !  " 

She  spoke  with  a  different  impulse  and  recognition 
from  any  she  had  known  before,  and  looked  brave  as 
a  young  soldier.  This  was  a  friend  who  knew  indeed 
the  world  whither  she  was  going. 

"  Why  should  you  not  come  to  me  ?  "  asked  the 
master.  "  '  Men  were  born  for  the  aid  and  succor  of 
men,'  "  he  added  with  a  smile.  "  You  do  not  know 
your  Kabelais,  my  little  lady." 


276  THE  TORY  LOVER 

The  horses  had  come  up ;  they  trod  the  ground  out 
side  impatiently.  She  knelt  before  the  old  man  hum 
bly,  and  he  blessed  her,  and  when  she  rose  she  kissed 
him.  like  a  child,  and  looked  long  in  his  face,  and  he 
in  hors ;  then  she  put  on  her  heavy  cloak  again,  and 
went  out  into  the  rainy  night. 

Next  day,  in  Portsmouth,  Madam  Wallingford,  pale 
and  stately,  and  Susan,  resolute  enough,  but  strangely 
apathetic,  put  off  into  the  harbor  from  Langdon's 
wharf.  They  were  accompanied  to  the  shore  by  many 
friends,  whose  hearts  were  moved  at  so  piteous  a  sight. 
When  the  mistress  and  maid  were  safe  on  the  deck  of 
the  Golden  Dolphin,  Mary  Hamilton  stood  there 
before  them ;  the  beauty  of  her  young  face  was  like 
some  heavenly  creature's. 

"  I  know  that  you  said  last  night,  when  I  was  for 
bidding  you  farewell,  that  you  should  see  me  again. 
I  have  been  thinking  all  this  morning  that  you  had 
been  prevented,"  whispered  Madam  Wallingford  ten 
derly.  They  were  long  in  each  other's  arms.  "  I  have 
a  few  things  left  to  say ;  it  is  impossible  to  remember 
all  proper  messages,  at  such  short  warning.  Let  them 
keep  the  boat  for  Miss  Hamilton,  until  the  last  mo 
ment  before  we  sail,"  she  said  to  the  captain. 

"  They  are  heaving  up  the  anchor  now,"  the  captain 
answered.  "  I  must  not  lose  this  fair  wind  to  get  us 
out  of  the  river." 

Mary  was  impatient  to  speak ;  she  cast  a  smiling 
glance  at  Susan,  who  wore  a  timid  look,  not  being 
used  to  plots,  or  to  taking  instructions  from  any  but 
her  mistress. 

"  Dear  friend,"  cried  Mary  then,  "you  must  let  me 
have  my  way !  I  could  not  let  you  go  alone.  I  tried 


MADAM  GOES  TO   SEA  277 

to  think  as  you  bade  me,  but  I  could  not.  I  am  going 
with  you  wherever  you  may  go :  I  think  it  is  my  right. 
You  have  short  time  now  to  give  Susan  your  last 
charges,  as  I  have  given  mine  to  Peggy.  I  stay  with 
you  and  Phebe  with  me,  and  Susan  goes  ashore. 
Please  God,  some  short  weeks  or  months  may  see  us 
sailing  home  again  up  the  river,  with  our  errand  well 
done ! " 

"  I  could  not  stand  against  them,  Madam,"  and 
Susan  looked  more  apprehensive  than  triumphant, 
though  she  was  grateful  to  Heaven  to  be  spared  a 
voyage  at  sea.  Her  mistress  was  not  one  to  have  her 
own  plans  set  aside.  "  I  listened  well,  Madam,  to  all 
you  said  to  Eodney  and  the  maids.  They  are  good 
girls,  but  they  need  a  head  over  them.  And  I  could 
do  nothing  against  Miss  Mary ;  for  Peggy,  that  has  a 
love  for  great  ploys  to  be  going  on,  and  the  world 
turned  upside  down,  has  backed  her  from  the  first." 


XXXI 

THE   MILL   PRISON 

"  Lackyng  my  love,  I  goe  from  place  to  place." 

"  'Twixt  every  prayer  he  says,  he  names  you  once 
As  others  drop  a  bead." 

ONE  morning  late  in  spring  the  yellow  primroses 
were  still  abloom  on  the  high  moorlands  above  Ply 
mouth  ;  the  chilly  sea  wind  was  blowing  hard,  and  the 
bright  sunshine  gave  little  warmth,  even  in  a  sheltered 
place.  The  yard  of  the  great  Mill  Prison  was  well 
defended  by  its  high  stockade,  but  the  wind  struck  a 
strong  wing  into  it  in  passing,  and  set  many  a  poor 
half -clad  man  to  shivering.  The  dreary  place  was 
crowded  with  sailors  taken  from  American  ships: 
some  forlorn  faces  were  bleached  by  long  captivity, 
and  others  were  still  round  and  ruddy  from  recent 
seafaring.  There  was  a  constant  clack  of  sharp,  angry 
voices.  Outside  the  gate  was  a  group  of  idle  sightseers 
staring  in,  as  if  these  poor  Yankees  were  a  menagerie 
of  outlandish  beasts ;  now  and  then  some  compassion 
ate  man  would  toss  a  shilling  between  the  bars,  to  be 
pitifully  scrambled  for,  or  beckon  to  a  prisoner  who 
looked  more  suffering  than  the  rest.  Even  a  south 
westerly  gale  hardly  served  to  lighten  the  heavy  air 
of  such  a  crowded  place,  and  nearly  every  one  looked 
distressed ;  the  small-pox  had  blighted  many  a  face,  so 
that  the  whole  company  wore  a  piteous  look,  though 
each  new  day  still  brought  new  hopes  of  liberty. 


THE  MILL  PRISON  279 

There  were  small  groups  of  men  sitting  close  to 
gether.  Some  were  playing  at  games  with  pebbles 
and  little  sticks,  their  draughts  board  or  f ox-and-geese 
lines  being  scratched  upon  the  hard  trodden  ground. 
Some  were  writing  letters,  and  wondering  how  to  make 
sure  of  sending  them  across  the  sea.  There  were  only 
two  or  three  books  to  be  seen  in  hand ;  most  of  the 
prisoners  were  wearily  doing  nothing  at  all. 

In  one  corner,  a  little  apart  from  the  rest,  sat  a  poor 
young  captain  who  had  lost  his  first  command,  a  small 
trading  vessel  on  the  way  to  France.  He  looked  very 
downcast,  and  was  writing  slowly,  a  long  and  hopeless 
letter  to  his  wife. 

"  I  now  regret  that  I  had  not  taken  your  advice  and 
Mother's  and  remained  at  home  instead  of  being  a 
prisoner  here,"  he  had  already  written,  and  the  stiff, 
painfully  shaped  words  looked  large  and  small  by 
turns  through  his  great  tears.  "  I  was  five  days  in  the 
prison  ship.  I  am  in  sorrow  our  government  cares 
but  little  for  hir  subjects.  They  have  nothing  allowed 
them  but  what  the  British  government  gives  them. 
Shameful,  —  all  other  nations  feels  for  their  subjects 
except  our  Country.  There  is  no  exchange  of  prison 
ers.  It  is  intirely  uncertain  when  I  return  perhaps 
not  during  the  war.  I  live  but  very  poor,  every  thing 
is  high.  I  hope  you  have  surmounted  your  difficulties 
and  our  child  has  come  a  Comfort  to  imploy  your  fond 
attention.  It  is  hard  the  loss  of  my  ship  and  difficult 
to  bare.  God  bless  you  all.  My  situation  is  not  so  bad 
but  it  might  be  worse.  This  goes  by  a  cartel  would 
to  God  I  could  go  with  it  but  that  happiness  is  denied 
me.  It  would  pain  your  tender  heart  to  view  the  dis 
tressed  seamen  crowded  in  this  filthy  prison,  there  is 
kind  friends  howiver  in  every  place  and  some  hours 


280  THE  TORY  LOVER 

passed  very  pleasant  in  spite  of  every  lack  some  says 
the  gallows  or  the  East  Indias  will  be  our  dreadful 
destiny,  't  would  break  a  stone's  heart  to  see  good 
men  go  so  hungry  we  must  go  barefoot  when  our  shoes 
is  done.  Some  eats  the  grass  in  the  yard  and  picks 
up  old  bones,  and  all  runs  to  snatch  the  stumps  of  our 
cabbage  the  cooks  throws  out.  some  makes  a  good 
soup  they  say  from  snails  a  decent  sort  that  hives 
about  the  walls,  but  I  have  not  come  to  this  I  could 
not  go  it.  They  says  we  may  be  scattered  on  the  King's 
ships.  I  hear  the  bells  in  Plymouth  Town  and  Dock 
pray  God  't  is  for  no  victory  —  no  I  hear  in  closing 
't  is  only  their  new  Lord  Mayor  coming  in  "  — 

As  this  was  finished  there  was  another  man  waiting 
close  by,  who  caught  impatiently  at  the  thrice-watered 
ink,  and  looked  suspiciously  to  see  if  any  still  re 
mained. 

"  Harbert  said  's  how  I  should  have  it  next,"  grum 
bled  the  fellow  prisoner,  "if  so  be  you  've  left  me 
any.  Who  '11  car'  our  letters  to  the  cartel  ?  They 
want  to  send  a  list  o'  those  that's  dead  out  o'  the 
Dolton,  an'  I  give  my  promise  to  draw  up  the  names." 

There  were  many  faces  missing  now  from  the  crew 
of  the  Dolton  brigantine,  taken  nearly  a  year  and  a 
half  before,  but  there  were  still  a  good  number  of  her 
men  left  in  the  prison.  Others  had  come  from  the 
Blenheim  or  the  Fancy ;  some  from  the  Lexington ; 
and  the  newest  resident  was  a  man  off  The  Yankee 
Hero,  who  had  spent  some  time  after  his  capture  as 
sailor  on  a  British  man-of-war.  He  was  a  friendly 
person,  and  had  brought  much  welcome  news,  being 
also  so  strong  and  well  fed  that  he  was  a  pleasant 
sight  to  see.  Just  now  he  sat  with  Charles  Herbert, 
of  Newbury,  in  Massachusetts,  whom  they  all  called 


THE  MILL  PRISON  281 

the  scribe.  For  once  this  poor  captive  wore  a  bright, 
eager  look  on  his  scarred  face,  as  he  listened  to  the 
newcomer's  talk  of  affairs  ;  they  had  been  near  neigh 
bors  at  home.  The  younger  man  had  been  in  prison 
these  many  months.  He  was  so  lucky  as  to  possess  a 
clumsy  knife,  which  was  as  great  a  treasure  as  his 
cherished  bottle  of  ink,  and  was  busy  making  a  little 
box  of  cedar  wood  and  fitting  it  neatly  together  with 
pegs.  Since  he  had  suffered  the  terrible  attack  of 
small-pox  which  had  left  his  face  in  ruins,  and  given 
him  a  look  of  age  at  twenty,  his  eyesight  had  begun  to 
fail;  he  was  even  now  groping  over  the  ground,  to 
find  one  of  the  tiny  dowels  that  belonged  to  his  handi 
work. 

"  'T  is  there  by  your  knee  ;  the  rags  of  your  trouser 
leg  was  over  it,"  said  Titcomb,  the  new  man-of-war's 
man,  as  he  reached  for  the  bit  of  wood. 

"  Who  's  this  new  plant  o'  grace,  comin'  out  o' 
hospit'l?  "he  asked  suddenly,  looking  over  Herbert's 
shoulder,  with  the  peg  in  his  fingers.  "  'T  is  a  stran 
ger  to  me,  and  with  the  air  of  a  gentleman,  though  he 
lops  about  trying  his  sea  legs,  like  an  eel  on  's  tail." 

"No  place  for  gentlemen  here,  God  help  him  !  " 
said  the  young  scribe  sadly,  trying  to  clear  his  dull 
eyes  with  a  ragged  sleeve  as  he  turned  to  look.  "  No, 
I  don't  know  who  it  is.  I  did  hear  yisterday  that  there 
was  an  officer  fetched  here  in  the  night,  from  the 
nor'ard,  under  guard,  and  like  to  be  soon  hanged. 
Some  one  off  of  a  Yankee  privateer,  they  said,  that 
went  in  and  burnt  the  shipping  of  a  port  beyond 
Wales.  I  overheared  the  sentinels  havin'  some  talk 
about  him  last  night.  I  expect  't  was  that  old  busi 
ness  of  the  Ranger,  and  nothin'  new." 

There  was  a  rough  scuffling  game  going  on  in  the 


282  THE  TORY  LOVER 

prison  yard,  which  made  all  the  sick  and  disabled  men 
shrink  back  against  the  walls,  out  of  danger.  The 
stranger  came  feebly  from  point  to  point,  as  the  game 
left  space,  toward  the  sunny  side  where  the  two  New- 
bury  men  were  sitting.  As  they  made  room  for  him, 
they  saw  that  he  was  dressed  in  the  remains  of  a  torn, 
weather-stained  uniform ;  his  arm  was  in  a  sling,  and 
his  shoulder  fast  bound  with  dirty  bandages. 

"  You  're  a  new  bird  in  this  pretty  cage,"  said  poor 
Herbert,  smiling  pleasantly.  He  was  a  fellow  of  sym 
pathetic  heart,  and  always  very  friendly  with  new 
comers. 

The'stranger  returned  his  greeting,  with  a  distressed 
glance  toward  their  noisy  companions,  and  seated  him 
self  heavily  on  the  ground,  leaning  back  against  the 
palisade.  The  tumult  and  apparent  danger  of  finding 
himself  trodden  underfoot  vexed  and  confused  him  in 
his  weakness;  presently  he  grew  faint,  and  his  head 
dropped  on  his  breast.  His  last  thought  was  a  wish 
to  be  back  in  the  wretched  barracks,  where  at  least  it 
was  quiet.  At  that  moment  two  men  pushed  their 
way  out  of  the  middle  of  a  quarreling  group  of  play 
mates,  and  ran  toward  him. 

"  'T  ain't  never  you,  sir !  "  cried  one. 

"  'T  is  Mr.  Koger  Wallingford,  too  !  Don't  you 
think  I've  got  sense  enough  to  know?"  scolded  the 
other,  both  speaking  at  once,  in  tones  which  con 
veyed  much  pity  and  astonishment  to  the  Newbury 
men's  ears. 

"  By  God !  it  is,  an'  he  's  a  dyin'  man ! " 

Gideon  Warren  was  a  Berwick  sailor  of  the  old 
stock,  who  had  known  the  lieutenant  from  a  child,  and 
was  himself  born  and  reared  by  the  river.  "  What  've 
them  devils  used  him  such  a  way  for?  "  he  demanded 


THE  MILL  PRISON  283 

angrily.  "  He  looks  as  ancient  as  the  old  judge,  his 
father,  done,  the  week  afore  he  died.  What  sort  of  a 
uniform  's  this  he 's  got  on  him  ?  " 

The  other  men  looked  on,  and,  any  excitement  being- 
delightful  in  so  dull  a  place,  a  crowd  gathered  about 
them  quickly,  pushing  and  jostling,  and  demanding  to 
know  what  had  happened.  Warren,  a  heavily  built, 
kind-faced  old  mariner,  had  fallen  on  his  knees  and 
taken  the  sick  man's  head  on  his  own  ample  shoulder, 
with  all  the  gentleness  of  a  woman.  There  was  more 
than  one  old  Berwick  neighbor  standing  near.  The 
general  racket  of  noise  began  to  be  hushed. 

"  Git  him  some  water,  can't  ye  ?  "  commanded  War 
ren.  "  I  misdoubt  we  've  got  no  sperits  for  him. 
Stand  to  t'  other  side,  there,  some  on  ye  caw-handed 
cutters,  an'  keep  the  sun  off'n  him  !  " 

"  'T  ain't  no  British  fightin'  gear,  nor  French 
neither,  that's  on  him,"  said  Ichabod  Lord,  as  he 
leaned  forward  to  get  a  better  view  of  the  red  waist 
coat,  and,  above  all,  the  gilt  buttons  of  the  new  pris 
oner's  coat. 

"  'T  is  an  officer  from  one  o'  our  own  Congress 
ships ;  they  'd  keep  such  news  from  us  here,  any  way 
they  could,"  said  young  Earl  angrily. 

"  Looks  to  me  different,"  said  the  Newbury  man 
who  was  with  Herbert.  "  No,  I  '11  begretch  it 's  any 
thing  more  'n  some  livery  wear  and  relic  o'  fashion. 
'T  is  some  poor  chap  they  've  cotched  out'n  some  lord's 
house ;  he  mought  be  American-born,  an'  they  took 
him  to  be  spyin'  on  'em." 

"  What  d'  you  know  o'  them  high  affairs  ?  "  returned 
Warren  with  indignation.  "  Livery  wear  ?  You  ain't 
never  been  situated  where  you  'd  be  like  to  see  none  ! 
'T  is  a  proper  uniform,  or  was  one,  leastways  ;  there 's 


284  THE  TORY  LOVER 

a  passel  o'  anchors  worked  on  him,  and  how  he  ever 
come  here  ain't  for  me  to  say,  but  'tis  our  young 
Squire  Wallin'ford,  son  an'  heir  o'  the  best  gentle 
man  that  was  ever  on  the  old  Piscataqua  River. 

"  When  we  come  away,  folks  was  all  certain  they 
had  leanin's  to  the  wrong  side ;  his  mother's  folks 
was  high  among  the  Boston  Tories,"  explained  Ichabod 
Lord  wonderingly.  "Yet  he  must  ha'  been  doin' 
some  mischief  'long  o'  the  Patriots,  or  he  'd  never 
been  sent  here  for  no  rebel,  —  no,  they  'd  never  sent 
him  here ;  this  ain't  where  they  keep  none  o'  their 
crown  jew'ls !  Lord !  I  hope  he  ain't  goin'  to  die 
afore  he  tells  some  news  from  the  old  Lower  Landin' 
an'  Pound  Hill,  an'  how  things  was  goin'  f orrard,  when 
he  left  home,  all  up  along  the  Witchtrot  road !  " 

These  last  words  came  straight  from  the  depths  of 
an  exile's  heart,  and  nobody  thought  it  worth  while 
to  smile  at  the  names  of  his  localities ;  there  was 
hardly  a  man  who  was  not  longing  for  home  news  in 
the  same  desperate  way.  A  jail  was  but  a  jail  the 
world  over,  a  place  to  crowd  a  man  lower  down,  soul 
and  body,  and  England  was  not  likely  to  be  anxious 
about  luxuries  for  these  ship's  companies  of  rebels  and 
pirates,  the  willful  destroyers  of  her  commerce ;  they 
were  all  thought  guilty  of  treason,  and  deserved  the 
worst  of  punishment. 

There  was  a  faint  flicker  of  color  now  on  the  stran 
ger's  cheeks,  and  Charles  Herbert  had  brought  some 
water,  and  was  fanning  him  with  a  poor  fragment  of 
headgear,  while  some  one  else  rubbed  his  cold  hands. 
They  were  all  well  enough  used  to  seeing  men  in  a 
swoon  ;  the  custom  was  to  lay  them  close  to  the  wall, 
if  they  were  in  the  way,  to  recover  themselves  as  best 


THE   MILL  PRISON  285 

they  could,  but  this  man  with  the  stained  red  waist 
coat  might  have  news  to  tell. 

"  I  '11  bate  my  head  he  's  been  on  the  Ranger  with 
Paul  Jones,"  announced  Ichabod  Lord  solemnly,  as  if 
he  were  ready  to  suffer  for  his  opinions.  "  That 's 
what  't  is ;  they  may  have  all  been  taken,  too,  off  the 
coast." 

"Why,  'tis  the  uniform  of  our  own  Congress 
navy,  then ! "  exclaimed  young  Herbert,  with  his 
scarred  cheeks  gone  bright  crimson  like  a  girl's,  and  a 
strange  thrill  in  his  voice.  He  sprang  to  his  feet,  and 
the  men  near  him  gave  the  best  cheer  they  could 
muster.  Poor  Wallingford  heard  it,  and  stirred  a 
little,  and  half  opened  his  eyes. 

"  I  've  above  two  shillings  here  that  I  've  airnt 
makin'  of  my  workboxes  :  some  o'  you  fellows  run  to 
the  gates  and  get  a  decent-looking  body  to  fetch  us 
some  brandy,"  begged  Herbert  hastily. 

"  I  'm  all  right  now,"  said  Wallingford  aloud ;  and 
then  he  saw  whose  stout  arms  were  holding  him,  and 
looked  into  a  familiar  face. 

"  Good  God !  we  had  news  at  home  long  ago  that 
you  were  dead,  Warren ! "  he  said  with  wide-eyed 
bewilderment. 

"  I  bain't  then,  so  now,"  insisted  the  honest  Gideon 
indignantly,  which  amused  the  audience  so  that  they 
fell  to  laughing  and  slapping  one  another  on  the 
shoulder. 

"  Well,  I  bairft "  repeated  Warren,  as  soon  as  he 
could  be  heard.  "  I  Ve  been  here  in  this  prison  for 
seven  months,  and  it 's  a  good  deal  worse  'n  layin'  at 
home  in  Old  Fields  bur'in'  ground,  right  in  sight  o' 
the  river  'n  all 's  a-goin'  on.  Tell  us  where  you  come 
from,  sir,  as  soon  's  you  feel  able,  and  how  long  you 


286  THE  TORY  LOVER 

are  from  Barvick !  We  get  no  sort  of  news  from  the 
folks.  I  expect  you  can't  tell  me  whether  my  old 
mother 's  livin'  ?  "  The  poor  man  tried  hard  to  master 
his  feelings,  but  his  face  began  to  twitch,  and  he  burst 
out  crying  suddenly,  like  a  child. 

"Looks  like  they've  all  gone  and  forgot  us," 
said  a  patient,  pale-faced  fellow  who  stood  near.  Wal- 
lingford  was  himself  again  now,  and  looked  with  dis 
may  at  those  who  looked  at  him.  Their  piteous  pal 
lor  and  hungry-eyed  misery  of  appearance  could  give 
but  little  sense  of  welcome  or  comfortable  reassurance 
to  a  new  captive.  He  was  as  poor  as  they,  and  as 
lacking  in  present  resource,  and,  being  weak  and 
worn,  the  very  kindness  and  pity  of  the  arms  that 
held  him  only  added  to  his  pain. 

"  If  I  had  not  come  the  last  of  my  way  by  sea,"  he 
told  them,  trying  to  speak  some  cheerful  hope  to  such 
hopeless  souls,  "  I  might  have  got  word  to  London  or 
to  Bristol,  where  I  can  count  upon  good  friends," 
but  some  of  the  listeners  looked  incredulous  and 
shook  their  heads  doubtfully,  while  there  were  those 
who  laughed  bitterly  as  they  strolled  away. 

"  Have  you  any  late  news  from  Captain  Paul 
Jones  ?  "  he  asked,  sitting  straight  now,  though  War 
ren  still  kept  a  careful  arm  behind  him.  "  I  was  at 
Whitehaven  with  him  ;  I  belong  on  the  frigate  Ran 
ger,"  and  his  eyes  grew  bright  and  boyish. 

"They  say  that  one  of  her  own  officers  tried  to 
betray  the  ship,"  sneered  a  young  man,  a  late  comer 
to  the  Mill  Prison,  who  stood  looking  straight  into 
poor  Wallingford's  face. 

"  'T  was  true  enough,  too,"  said  Roger  Wallingford 
frankly ;  "  it  is  by  no  fault  of  mine  that  you  see  me 
here.  God  grant  that  such  treachery  made  no  other 
victim ! ' 


THE  MILL  PRISON  287 

"They  say  that  the  Hanger  has  taken  a  mort  o' 
prizes,  and  sent  them  back  to  France,"  announced  the 
Newbury  sailor.  "  Oh,  Lord,  yes,  she 's  scared  'em 
blue  ever  sence  that  night  she  went  into  Whitehaven  ! 
She  took  the  Drake  sloop  o'  war  out  o'  Carrickfergus 
that  very  next  day." 

"  I  knew  there  was  business  afoot !  "  cried  the  lieu 
tenant  proudly ;  but  he  suddenly  turned  faint  again, 
and  they  saw  a  new  bright  stain  strike  through  the 
clumsy  bandages  on  his  shoulder. 


XXXII 

THE   GOLDEN   DRAGON 

"  Give  where  want  is  silently  clamorous,  and  men's  necessities,  not 
their  tongues,  do  loudly  call  for  thy  mercies." 

THE  less  said  of  a  dull  sea  voyage,  the  better ;  to 
Madam  Wallingford  and  her  young  companion  their 
slow  crossing  to  the  port  of  Bristol  could  be  but  a  long 
delay.  Each  day  of  the  first  week  seemed  like  a  week 
in  passing,  though  from  very  emptiness  it  might  be 
but  a  moment  in  remembrance ;  time  in  itself  being 
like  money  in  itself,  —  nothing  at  all  unless  changed 
into  action,  sensation,  material.  At  first,  for  these 
passengers  by  the  Golden  Dolphin,  there  was  no  hope 
of  amusement  of  any  sort  to  shorten  the  eventless 
hours.  Their  hearts  were  too  heavy  with  comfortless 
anxieties. 

The  sea  was  calm,  and  the  May  winds  light  but 
steady  from  the  west.  It  was  very  warm  for  the  season 
of  year,  and  the  discouragements  of  early  morning  in 
the  close  cabin  were  easily  blown  away  by  the  fresh 
air  of  the  quarter-deck.  The  captain,  a  well-born 
man,  but  diffident  in  the  company  of  ladies,  left  his 
vessel's  owner  and  her  young  companion  very  much 
to  themselves.  Mary  had  kept  to  a  sweet  composure 
and  uncomplainingness,  for  her  old  friend's  sake,  but 
she  knew  many  difficult  hours  of  regret  and  uncertainty 
now  that,  having  once  taken  this  great  step,  Madam 


THE  GOLDEN  DRAGON  289 

"Wallingford  appeared  to  look  to  her  entirely  for  sup 
port  and  counsel,  and  almost  to  forget  upon  how  great 
an  adventure  they  had  set  forth.  All  Mary's  own 
cares  and  all  her  own  obligations  and  beliefs  some 
times  rose  before  her  mind,  as  if  in  jealous  arraign 
ment  of  her  presence  on  the  eastward-moving  ship. 
Yet  though  she  might  think  of  her  brother's  dis 
pleasure  and  anxiety,  and  in  the  darkest  moments  of 
all  might  call  herself  a  deserter,  and  count  the  slow 
hours  of  a  restless  night,  when  morning  came,  one 
look  at  Madam  Wallingford's  pale  face  in  the  gray 
light  of  their  cabin  was  enough  to  reassure  the  bravery 
of  her  heart.  In  still  worse  hours  of  that  poor  lady's 
angry  accusation  of  those  whom  she  believed  to  be 
their  country's  enemies,  Mary  yet  found  it  possible  to 
be  patient,  as  we  always  may  be  when  Pity  comes  to 
help  us  ;  there  was  ever  a  final  certainty  in  her  breast 
that  she  had  not  done  wrong,  —  that  she  was  only 
yielding  to  an  inevitable,  irresistible  force  of  love. 
Love  itself  had  brought  her  out  of  her  own  country. 

Often  they  sat  pleasantly  together  upon  the  deck, 
the  weather  was  so  clear  and  fine,  Mary  being  always 
at  Madam  Wallingford's  feet  on  a  stout  little  oaken 
footstool,  busy  with  her  needle  to  fashion  a  warmer 
head-covering,  or  to  work  at  a  piece  of  slow  embroi 
dery  on  a  strip  of  linen  that  Peggy  had  long  ago 
woven  on  their  own  loom.  Often  the  hearts  of  both 
these  women,  who  were  mistresses  of  great  houses  and 
the  caretakers  of  many  dependents,  were  full  of  anx 
ious  thought  of  home  and  all  its  business. 

Halfway  from  land  to  land,  with  the  far  horizon  of 
a  calm  sea  unbroken  by  mast  or  sail,  the  sky  was  so 
empty  by  day  that  the  stars  at  night  brought  welcome 
evidence  of  life  and  even  companionship,  as  if  the 


290  THE  TORY  LOVER 

great  processes  of  the  universe  were  akin  to  the  con 
scious  life  on  their  own  little  ship.  In  spite  of  the 
cruelty  of  a  doubt  that  would  sometimes  attack  her, 
Mary  never  quite  lost  hold  on  a  higher  courage,  or  the 
belief  that  they  were  on  their  way  to  serve  one  whom 
they  both  loved,  to  do  something  which  they  alone 
could  do.  The  thought  struck  her  afresh,  one  after 
noon,  that  they  might  easily  enough  run  into  danger 
as  they  came  near  land ;  they  might  not  only  fall  an 
easy  prey  to  some  Yankee  privateer  (for  their  sailing 
papers  were  now  from  Halifax),  but  they  might  meet 
the  well-manned  Ranger  herself,  as  they  came  upon 
the  English  coast.  A  quick  flush  brightened  the  girl's 
sea-browned  cheeks,  but  a  smile  of  confidence  and 
amusement  followed  it. 

Madam  Wallingford  was  watching  her  from  the 
long  chair. 

"  You  seem  very  cheerful  to-day,  my  dear  child," 
she  said  wistfully. 

"  I  was  heartened  by  a  funny  little  dream  in  broad 
daylight,"  answered  Mary  frankly,  looking  up  with 
something  like  love  itself  unveiled  in  her  clear  eyes. 

"  It  is  like  to  be  anything  but  gay  in  Bristol,  when 
we  come  to  land,"  answered  Madam  Wallingford. 
"  I  had  news  in  Halifax,  when  we  lay  there,  that  many 
of  their  best  merchants  in  Bristol  are  broken,  and  are 
for  a  petition  to  Parliament  to  end  these  troubles 
quickly.  All  their  once  great  trade  with  the  colonies 
is  done.  I  spent  many  happy  months  in  Bristol  when 
I  was  young.  'T  was  a  noble  town,  with  both  riches 
and  learning,  and  full  of  sights,  too  ;  it  was  a  fit  town 
for  gentlefolk.  I  sometimes  think  that  if  anything 
could  give  back  my  old  strength  again,  't  would  be  to 
take  the  air  upon  the  Clifton  Downs." 


THE  GOLDEN  DRAGON  291 

"You  will  have  many  things  to  show  me,"  said 
Mary,  with  a  smile.  "  You  are  better  already  for  the 
sea  air,  Madam.  It  does  my  heart  good  to  see  the 
change  in  you." 

"  Oh,  dear  child,  if  we  were  only  there !  "  cried  the 
poor  lady.  "  Life  is  too  hard  for  me  ;  it  seems  some 
times  as  if  I  cannot  bear  it  a  moment  longer.  Yet  I 
shall  find  strength  for  what  I  have  to  do.  I  wonder 
if  we  must  take  long  journeys  at  once  ?  'T  is  not  so 
far  if  Roger  should  be  at  Plymouth,  as  they  believed 
among  the  Halifax  friends.  But  I  saw  one  stranger 
shake  his  head  and  look  at  me  with  pity,  as  I  put  my 
questions.  He  was  from  England,  too,  and  just  off 
the  sea  "  — 

"  There  is  one  thing  I  am  certain  of,  —  Roger  is 
not  dead,"  said  Mary.  "We  are  sure  to  find  him 
soon,"  she  added,  in  a  different  tone,  when  she  had 
spoken  out  of  her  heart  for  very  certainty.  The 
mother's  face  took  on  a  sweet  look  of  relief ;  Mary 
was  so  strong-hearted,  so  sure  of  what  she  said,  that  it 
could  not  help  being  a  comfort. 

"  Our  cousin  Davis  will  be  gathering  age,"  Madam 
Wallingford  continued,  after  a  little  while.  "  I  look 
to  find  her  most  sadly  changed.  She  had  been  married 
two  years  already  when  I  made  my  first  voyage  to 
England,  and  went  to  visit  her." 

Mary  looked  up  eagerly  from  her  work,  as  if  to  beg 
some  further  reminiscences  of  the  past.  Because  she 
loved  Madam  Wallingford  so  well  it  was  pleasant  to 
share  the  past  with  her;  the  old  distance  between 
them  grew  narrower  day  by  day. 

"  I  was  but  a  girl  of  seventeen  when  I  first  saw 
Bristol,  and  I  went  straight  to  her  house  from  the 
ship,  as  I  hope  we  may  do  now,  if  that  dear  heart  still 


292  THE  TORY  LOVER 

remains  in  a  world  that  needs  her,"  said  the  elder 
woman.  "  She  is  of  kin  to  your  own  people,  you  must 
remember,  as  well  as  to  the  Wallingfords.  Yes,  she 
was  glad  of  my  visit,  too,  for  she  was  still  mourning 
for  her  mother.  Being  the  youngest  child,  she  had 
been  close  with  her  till  her  marriage,  and  always  a 
favorite.  They  had  never  been  parted  for  a  night  or 
slept  but  under  the  same  roof,  until  young  Davis 
would  marry  her,  and  could  not  be  gainsaid.  He  had 
come  to  the  Piscataqua  plantations,  supercargo  of  a 
great  ship  of  his  father's ;  the  whole  countryside  had 
flocked  to  see  so  fine  a  vessel,  when  she  lay  in  the 
stream  at  Portsmouth.  She  was  called  the  Rose  and 
Crown ;  she  was  painted  and  gilded  in  her  cabin  like 
a  king's  pleasure  ship.  He  promised  that  his  wife 
should  come  home  every  second  year  for  a  long  visit, 
and  bragged  of  their  ships  being  always  011  the  ocean ; 
he  said  she  should  keep  her  carriage  both  on  sea  and 
on  land.  'T  was  but  the  promise  of  a  courting  man, 
he  was  older  than  she,  and  already  very  masterful ; 
he  had  grown  stern  and  sober,  and  made  grave  laws 
for  his  household,  when  I  saw  it,  two  years  later.  He 
had  come  to  be  his  father's  sole  heir,  and  felt  the 
weight  of  great  affairs,  and  said  he  could  not  spare 
his  wife  out  of  his  sight,  when  she  pleaded  to  return 
with  me ;  a  woman's  place  was  in  her  husband's  house. 
Mother  and  child  had  the  sundering  sea  ever  between 
them,  and  never  looked  in  each  other's  face  again; 
for  Mistress  Goodwin  was  too  feeble  to  take  the 
journey,  though  she  was  younger  than  I  am  now. 
He  was  an  honest  man  and  skillful  merchant,  was 
John  Davis  ;  but  few  men  can  read  a  woman's  heart, 
which  lives  by  longing,  and  not  by  reason  ;  't  is  writ 
in  another  language. 


THE  GOLDEN  DRAGON  293 

"  You  have  often  heard  of  the  mother,  old  Mistress 
Goodwin,  who  was  taken  to  Canada  by  the  savages, 
and  who  saw  her  child  killed  by  them  before  her  eyes? 
They  threatened  to  kill  her  too  because  she  wept,  and 
an  Indian  woman  pitied  her,  and  flung  water  in  her 
face  to  hide  the  tears,"  the  speaker  ended,  much 
moved. 

"  Oh,  yes.  I  always  wish  I  could  remember  her," 
answered  Mary.  "  She  was  a  woman  of  great  valor, 
and  with  such  a  history.  'T  was  like  living  two  life 
times  in  one."  The  girl's  face  shone  with  eagerness 
as  she  looked  up,  and  again  bent  over  her  needlework. 
"  She  was  the  mother  of  all  the  Goodwins  ;  they  have 
cause  enough  for  pride  when  they  think  of  her." 

"  She  had  great  beauty,  too,  even  in  her  latest  age, 
though  her  face  was  marked  by  sorrow,"  continued 
Madam  Wallingford,  easily  led  toward  entertaining 
herself  by  the  listener's  interest,  the  hope  of  pleasing 
Mary.  "  Mistress  Goodwin  was  the  skillful  hostess 
of  any  company,  small  or  great,  and  full  of  life 
even  when  she  was  bent  double  by  her  weight  of 
years,  and  had  seen  most  of  her  children  die  before 
her.  There  was  a  look  in  her  eyes  as  of  one  who 
could  see  spirits,  and  yet  she  was  called  a  very  cheer 
ful  person.  'T  was  indeed  a  double  life,  as  if  she  knew 
the  next  world  long  before  she  left  this  one.  They  said 
she  was  long  remembered  by  the  folk  she  lived  among 
in  Canada ;  she  would  have  done  much  kindness  there 
even  in  her  distress.  Her  husband  was  a  plain,  kind 
man,  very  able  and ""  shrewd-witted,  like  most  Good 
wins,  but  she  was  born  a  Plaisted  of  the  Great 
House  ;  they  were  the  best  family  then  in  the  planta 
tion.  Oh  yes,  I  can  see  her  now  as  if  she  stood  be 
fore  me,  —  a  small  body,  but  lit  with  flame  from  no 


294  THE  TORY  LOVER 

common  altar  of  the  gods  !  "  exclaimed  Madam  Wal- 
lingford,  after  a  moment's  pause.  "  She  had  the  fine 
dignity  which  so  many  women  lack  in  these  days,  and 
knew  no  fear,  they  always  said,  except  at  the  sight  of 
some  savage  face.  This  I  have  often  heard  old  peo 
ple  say  of  her  earlier  years,  when  the  Indians  were 
still  in  the  country ;  she  would  be  startled  by  them  as 
if  she  came  suddenly  upon  a  serpent.  Yet  she  would 
treat  them  kindly." 

"  I  remember  when  some  of  our  old  men  still 
brought  their  guns  to  church  and  stood  them  in  the 
pews,"  said  Mary ;  "  but  this  year  there  were  only 
two  poor  huts  in  the  Vineyard,  when  the  Indians 
came  down  the  country  to  catch  the  salmon  and  dry 
them.  There  are  but  a  feeble  few  of  all  their  great 
tribe ;  't  is  strange  to  know  that  a  whole  nation  has 
lived  on  our  lands  before  us  !  I  wonder  if  we  shall 
disappear  in  our  own  turn  ?  Peggy  always  says  that 
when  the  first  settlers  came  up  the  river  they  found 
traces  of  ancient  settlement ;  the  Vineyard  was  there, 
with  its  planted  vines  all  run  to  waste  and  of  a  great 
age,  and  the  old  fields,  too,  which  have  given  our 
river  neighborhoods  their  name.  Peggy  says  there 
were  other  white  people  in  Barvick  long  ago  ;  the  old 
Indians  had  some  strange  legends  of  a  folk  who  had 
gone  away.  Did  Mistress  Goodwin  ever  speak  of  her 
captivity,  or  the  terrible  march  to  Canada  through 
the  snow,  when  she  was  captured  with  the  other  Bar 
vick  folk,  Madam  ?  "  asked  Mary,  with  eagerness  to 
return  to  their  first  subject.  "People  do  not  speak 
much  of  those  old  times  now,  since  our  own  troubles 
came  on." 

"  No,  no,  she  would  never  talk  of  her  trials ;  't  was 
not  her  way,"  protested  Madam  Wallingford,  and  a 


THE  GOLDEN  DRAGON  295 

shadow  crossed  her  face.  "  'T  was  her  only  happiness 
to  forget  such  things.  I  can  see  her  sitting  in  the 
sun  with  a  fescue  in  her  hand,  teaching  the  little  chil 
dren.  They  needed  bravery  in  those  old  days  ;  no 
thing  can  haunt  us  as  their  fear  of  sudden  assault  and 
savage  cruelty  must  have  haunted  them." 

Mary  thought  quickly  enough  of  that  angry  mob 
which  had  so  lately  gathered  about  her  old  friend's 
door,  but  she  said  nothing.  The  Sons  of  Liberty 
and  their  visit  seemed  to  have  left  no  permanent  dis 
comfort  in  Madam's  mind.  "  No,  no !  "  said  the  girl 
aloud.  "We  have  grown  so  comfortable  that  even 
war  has  its  luxuries  ;  they  have  said  that  a  common 
soldier  grows  dainty  with  his  food  and  lodging, 
and  the  commanders  are  daily  fretted  by  such  com 
plaints." 

"  There  is  not  much  comfort  to  be  had,  poor  fel 
lows  !  "  exclaimed  Madam  Wallingford  rebukingly, 
as  if  she  and  Mary  had  changed  sides.  "  Not  at  your 
Valley  Forge,  and  not  with  the  King's  troops  last 
year  in  Boston.  They  suffered  everything,  but  not 
more  than  the  rebels  liked." 

Mary's  cheeks  grew  red  at  the  offensive  word. 
"  Do  not  say  '  rebels  ' !  "  she  entreated.  "  I  do  not 
think  that  Mistress  Hetty  Goodwin  would  side  with 
Parliament,  if  she  were  living  still.  Think  how  they 
loved  our  young  country,  and  what  they  bore  for  it, 
in  those  early  days !  " 

"  'T  is  not  to  the  purpose,  child !  "  answered  the 
old  lady  sharply.  "  They  were  all  for  England 
against  France  and  her  cruel  Indian  allies ;  I  meant 
by  '  rebels '  but  a  party  word.  Hetty  Goodwin  might 
well  be  of  my  mind ;  too  old  to  learn  irreverence 
toward  the  King.  I  hate  some  of  his  surrounders. 


296  THE   TORY  LOVER 

—  I  can  own  to  that !  I  hate  the  Bedfords,  and  I 
have  but  scorn  for  his  Lord  Sandwich  or  for  Eock- 
ingham.  They  are  treating  our  American  Loyalists 
without  justice.  Sir  William  Howe  might  have  had 
five  thousand  men  of  us,  had  he  made  proclamation. 
Fifty  of  the  best  gentlemen  in  Philadelphia  who  were 
for  the  Crown  waited  upon  him  only  to  be  rebuffed." 

She  checked  herself  quickly,  and  glanced  at  Mary, 
as  if  she  were  sorry  to  have  acknowledged  so  much. 
"  Yes,  I  count  upon  Mr.  Fox  to  stand  our  friend 
rather  than  upon  these !  and  we  have  Mr.  Franklin, 
too,  who  is  large-minded  enough  to  think  of  the 
colonies  themselves,  and  to  forget  their  petty  factions 
and  rivalries.  Let  us  agree,  let  us  agree,  if  we  can !." 
and  Madam  Wallingford,  whose  dignity  was  not  a 
thing  to  be  lightly  touched,  turned  toward  Mary  with 
a  winning  smile.  She  knew  that  she  must  trust  her 
self  more  and  more  to  this  young  heart's  patience  and 
kindness  ;  yes,  and  to  her  judgment  about  their  plans. 
Thank  God,  this  child  who  loved  her  was  always 
at  her  side.  With  a  strange  impulse  to  confess  all 
these  things,  she  put  out  her  frail  hand  to  Mary,  and 
Mary,  willingly  drawing  a  little  closer,  held  it  to  her 
cheek.  They  could  best  understand  each  other  with 
out  words.  The  girl  had  a  clear  mind,  and  had 
listened  much  to  the  talk  of  men.  The  womanish 
arguments  of  Madam  W^allingford  always  strangely 
confused  her. 

"  Mr.  Franklin  will  ever  be  as  young  at  heart  as  he 
is  old  in  years,"  said  the  lady  presently,  with  the  old 
charm  of  her  manner,  and  all  wistfulness  and  worry 
quite  gone  from  her  face.  She  had  been  strengthened 
by  Mary's  love  in  the  failing  citadel  of  her  heart. 
"  'T  is  Mr.  Franklin's  most  noble  gift  that  he  can 


THE  GOLDEN  DRAGON  297 

keep  in  sympathy  with  the  thoughts  and  purposes  of 
younger  men.  Age  is  wont  to  be  narrow  and  to 
depend  upon  certainties  of  the  past,  while  youth  has 
its  easily  gathered  hopes  and  quick  intuitions.  Mr. 
Franklin  is  both  characters  at  once,  —  as  sanguine  as 
he  is  experienced.  I  knew  him  well ;  he  will  be  the 
same  man  now,  and  as  easy  a  courtier  as  he  was  then 
content  with  his  thrift  and  prudence.  I  trust  him 
among  the  first  of  those  who  can  mend  our  present 
troubles. 

"  I  beg  you  not  to  think  that  I  am  unmindful  of 
our  wrongs  in  the  colonies,  Mary,  my  dear,"  she  added 
then,  in  a  changed  voice.  "  'T  is  but  your  foolish  way 
of  trying  to  mend  them  that  has  grieved  me,  —  you 
who  call  yourselves  the  Patriots !  " 

Mary  smiled  again  and  kept  silence,  but  with  some 
thing  of  a  doubtful  heart.  She  did  not  wish  to  argue 
about  politics,  that  sunny  day  on  the  sea.  No  good 
could  come  of  it,  though  she  had  a  keen  sense  that 
her  companion's  mind  was  now  sometimes  unsettled 
from  its  old  prejudices  and  firm  beliefs.  The  captain 
was  a  stanch  Eoyalist,  who  believed  that  the  rebels 
were  sure  to  be  put  down,  and  that  no  sensible  man 
should  find  himself  left  in  the  foolish  situation  of  a 
King's  antagonist,  or  suffer  the  futility  of  such  defeat. 

"  Will  Mistress  Davis  look  like  her  mother,  do  you 
think  ?  "  Mary  again  bethought  herself  to  return  to 
the  simpler  subject  of  their  conversation. 

"  Yes,  no  doubt ;  they  had  the  same  brave  eyes  and 
yet  strangely  timid  look.  'T  is  a  delicate,  frail,  spir 
ited  face.  Our  cousin  Davis  would  be  white-headed 
now  ;  she  was  already  gray  in  her  twenties,  when  I 
last  saw  her.  It  sometimes  seems  but  the  other  day. 
They  said  that  Mistress  Goodwin  came  home  from 


298  THE  TORY  LOVER 

Canada  with  her  hair  as  white  as  snow.  Yes,  their 
eyes  were  alike  ;  but  the  daughter  had  a  Goodwin  look, 
small  featured  and  neatly  made,  as  their  women  are. 
She  could  hold  to  a  purpose  and  was  very  capable, 
and  had  wonderful  quickness  with  figures  ;  't  is  com 
mon  to  the  whole  line.  Mistress  Hetty,  the  mother, 
had  a  pleasing  gentleness,  but  great  dignity ;  she  was 
born  of  those  who  long  had  been  used  to  responsibility 
and  the  direction  of  others." 

Mary  laughed  a  little.  "  When  you  say  c  capable,' 
it  makes  me  think  of  old  Peggy,  at  home,"  she  ex 
plained.  "  One  day,  not  long  ago,  I  was  in  the  spin 
ning  room  while  we  chose  a  pattern  for  the  new  table 
linen,  and  she  had  a  child  there  with  her ;  you  know 
that  Peggy  is  fond  of  a  little  guest.  There  had  been 
talk  of  a  cake,  and  the  child  was  currying  favor  lest 
she  should  be  forgotten. 

"  '  Mrs.  Peggy,'  she  piped,  '  my  aunt  Betsey  says  as 
how  you  're  a  very  capering  woman ! ' 

"  '  What,  what  ? '  says  Peggy.  '  Your  aunt  Betsey, 
indeed,  you  mite !  Oh,  I  expect  't  was  capable  she 
meant,'  Peggy  declared  next  moment,  a  little  pacified, 
and  turned  to  me  with  a  lofty  air.  '  Can't  folks  have 
an  English  tongue  in  their  heads  ? '  she  grumbled ; 
but  she  ended  our  high  affairs  then,  and  went  off  to 
the  kitchen  with  the  child  safe  in  hand." 

"  I  can  see  her  go !  "  and  Madam  Wallingford 
laughed  too,  easily  pleased  with  the  homely  tale. 

"  Ah,  but  we  must  not  laugh ;  it  hurts  my  poor 
heart  even  to  smile,"  she  whispered.  "  My  dear  son 
is  in  prison,  we  know  not  where,  and  I  have  been  for 
getting  him  when  I  can  laugh.  I  know  not  if  he  be 
live  or  dead,  and  we  are  so  far  from  him,  tossing  in 
the  midseas.  Oh,  what  can  two  women  like  us  do  in 


THE  GOLDEN   DRAGON  299 

England,  in  this  time  of  bitterness,  if  the  Loyalists 
are  reckoned  but  brothers  of  the  rebels  ?  I  dreamed 
it  was  all  different  till  we  heard  such  tales  in 
Halifax." 

"  We  shall  find  many  friends,  and  we  need  never 
throw  away  our  hope,"  said  Mary  Hamilton  soothingly. 
"  And  Master  Sullivan  bade  me  remember  with  his 
last  blessing  that  God  never  makes  us  feel  our  weak 
ness  except  to  lead  us  to  seek  strength  from  Him. 
'T  was  the  saying  of  his  old  priest,  the  Abbe  Fene- 
lon." 

They  sat  silent  together ;  the  motion  of  the  ship 
was  gentle  enough,  and  the  western  breeze  was  steady. 
It  seemed  like  a  quiet  night  again  ;  the  sun  was  going 
down,  and  there  was  a  golden  light  in  the  thick  web 
of  rigging  overhead,  and  the  gray  sails  were  turned 
to  gold  color. 

"  It  is  I  who  should  be  staying  you,  dear  child," 
whispered  Madam  Wallingford,  putting  out  her  hand 
again  and  resting  it  on  Mary's  shoulder,  "  but  you 
never  fail  to  comfort  me.  I  have  bitterly  reproached 
myself  many  and  many  a  day  for  letting  you  follow 
me  ;  't  is  like  the  book  of  Ruth,  which  always  brought 
my  tears  as  I  read  it.  I  am  far  happier  here  with  you 
than  I  have  been  many  a  day  at  home  in  my  lonely 
house.  I  need  wish  for  a  daughter's  love  no  more. 
I  sometimes  forget  even  my  great  sorrow  and  my  fear 
of  our  uncertainty,  and  dread  the  day  when  we  shall 
come  to  land.  I  wish  I  were  not  so  full  of  fears. 
Yet  I  do  not  think  God  will  let  me  die  till  I  have  seen 
my  son." 

Mary  could  not  look  just  then  at  her  old  friend's 
fragile  figure  and  anxious  face ;  she  had  indeed  taken 
a  great  charge  upon  herself,  and  a  weakness  stole  over 


300  THE  TORY  LOVER 

her  own  heart  that  could  hardly  be  borne.  What 
difficulties  and  disappointments  were  before  them  God 
only  knew. 

"Dear  child,"  said  Madam  Wallingford,  whose 
eyes  were  fixed  upon  Mary's  unconscious  face,  "  is  it 
your  dreams  that  keep  your  heart  so  light  ?  I  wish 
that  you  could  share  them  with  the  heavy-hearted  like 
me !  All  this  long  winter  you  have  shown  a  heavenly 
patience  ;  but  your  face  was  often  sad,  and  this  has 
grieved  me.  I  have  thought  since  we  came  to  sea  that 
you  have  been  happier  than  you  were  before." 

"  'T  was  not  the  distresses  that  we  all  knew ;  some 
thing  pained  me  that  I  could  not  understand.  Now 
it  troubles  me  no  more,"  and  Mary  looked  at  the 
questioner  with  a  frank  smile. 

"I  am  above  all  a  hater  of  curious  questions," 
insisted  the  lady.  But  Mary  did  not  turn  her  eyes 
away,  and  smiled  again. 

"  I  can  hold  myself  to  silence,"  said  Madam  Wal 
lingford.  "  I  should  not  have  spoken  but  for  the  love 
and  true  interest  of  my  heart ;  't  was  not  a  vulgar 
greed  of  curiosity  that  moved  me.  I  am  thankful 
enough  for  your  good  cheer  ;  you  have  left  home  and 
many  loving  cares,  and  have  come  with  me  upon  this 
forced  and  anxious  journey  as  if  it  were  but  a  holi- 
day." 

Mary  bent  lower  over  her  sewing. 

"  Now  that  we  have  no  one  but  each  other  I  should 
be  glad  to  put  away  one  thought  that  has  distressed 
me  much,"  confessed  the  mother,  and  her  voice  trem 
bled.  "  You  have  never  said  that  you  had  any  word 
from  Roger.  Surely  there  is  no  misunderstand 
ing  between  you  ?  I  have  sometimes  feared  —  Oh, 


THE  GOLDEN  DRAGON  301 

remember  that  I  am  his  mother,  Mary !  He  has  not 
written  even  to  me  in  his  old  open  fashion ;  there  has 
been  a  difference,  as  if  the  great  distance  had  for  once 
come  between  our  hearts  ;  but  this  last  letter  was  from 
his  own  true  heart,  from  his  very  self  !  The  know 
ledge  that  he  was  not  happy  made  me  fearful,  and  yet 
I  cannot  brook  the  thought  that  he  has  been  faithless, 
galling  though  his  hasty  oath  may  have  been  to  him. 
Oh  no,  no  !  I  hate  myself  for  speaking  so  dark  a 
thought  as  this.  My  son  is  a  man  of  high  honor." 
She  spoke  proudly,  yet  her  anxious  face  was  drawn 
with  pain. 

Mary  laid  down  her  piece  of  linen,  anql  clasped  her 
hands  together  strongly  in  her  lap.  There  was  some 
thing  deeply  serious  in  her  expression,  as  she  gazed  off 
upon  the  sea. 

"  It  is  all  right  now,"  she  said  presently,  speaking 
very  simply,  and  not  without  effort.  "  I  have  been 
grieved  for  many  weeks,  ever  since  the  first  letters 
came.  I  had  no  word  at  all  from  Roger,  and  we  had 
been  such  friends.  The  captain  wrote  twice  to  me, 
as  I  told  you  ;  his  letters  were  the  letters  of  a  gentle 
man,  and  most  kind.  I  could  be  sure  that  there  was 
no  trouble  between  them,  as  I  feared  sometimes  at 
first,"  and  the  bright  color  rushed  to  her  face.  "  It 
put  me  to  great  anxiety ;  but  the  very  morning  before 
we  sailed  a  letter  came  from  Roger.  I  could  not  bring 
myself  to  speak  of  it  then  ;  I  can  hardly  tell  you  now." 

"  And  it  is  all  clear  between  you  ?  I  see,  —  there 
was  some  misunderstanding,  my  dear.  Remember 
that  my  boy  is  sometimes  very  quick ;  't  is  a  hasty 
temper,  but  a  warm  and  true  heart.  Is  it  all  clear 
now?" 

Mary  wished  to  answer,  but  she  could  not,  for  all 


302  THE  TORY   LOVER 

her  trying,  manage  to  speak  a  word ;  she  did  not  wish 
to  show  the  deep  feeling  that  was  moving  her,  and  first 
looked  seaward  again,  and  then  took  up  her  needle 
work.  Her  hand  touched  the  bosom  of  her  gown,  to 
feel  if  the  letter  were  there  and  safe.  Madam  Wal- 
lingford  smiled,  and  was  happy  enough  in  such  a  plain 
assurance. 

"  Oh  yes  !  "  Mary  found  herself  saying  next  mo 
ment,  quite  unconsciously,  the  wave  of  happy  emotion 
having  left  her  calm  again.  "  Oh  yes,  I  have  come 
to  understand  everything  now,  dear  Madam,  and  the 
letter  was  written  while  the  Hanger  lay  in  the  port  of 
Brest.  They  were  sailing  any  day  for  the  English 
coast." 

"  Sometimes  I  fear  that  he  may  be  dead ;  this  very 
sense  of  his  living  nearness  to  my  heart  may  be  only  — 
The  dread  of  losing  him  wakes  me  from  my  sleep ; 
but  sometimes  by  day  I  can  feel  him  thinking  to  me, 
just  as  I  always  have  since  he  was  a  child;  'tis  just 
as  if  he  spoke,"  and  the  tears  stood  bright  in  Madam 
Wallingford's  eyes. 

"  No,  dear,  he  is  not  dead,"  said  Mary,  listening 
eagerly ;  but  she  could  not  tell  even  Roger  Walling 
ford's  mother  the  reason  why  she  was  so  certain. 


XXXIII 

THEY   COME   TO    BRISTOL 

"  The  wise  will  remember  through  sevenfold  births  the  love  of  those 
who  wiped  away  their  falling  tears." 

Miss  MAKY  HAMILTON  and  the  captain  of  the 
Golden  Dolphin  walked  together  from  the  busy  boat 
landing  up  into  the  town  of  Bristol.  The  tide  was  far 
down,  and  the  captain,  being  a  stout  man,  was  still 
wheezing  from  his  steep  climb  on  the  long  landing- 
stairs.  It  was  good  to  feel  the  comfort  of  solid  ground 
underfoot,  and  to  hear  so  loud  and  cheerful  a  noise  of 
English  voices,  after  their  four  long  weeks  at  sea,  and 
the  ring  and  clank  of  coppersmiths'  hammers  were  not 
unpleasant  to  the  ear  even  in  a  narrow  street.  The 
captain  was  in  a  jovial  temper  of  mind ;  he  had  some 
considerable  interest  in  his  cargo,  and  they  had  been 
in  constant  danger  off  the  coast.  Now  that  he  was 
safe  ashore,  and  the  brig  was  safe  at  anchor,  he  stepped 
quickly  and  carried  his  head  high,  and  asked  their 
shortest  way  to  Mr.  Davis's  house,  to  leave  Mary  there, 
while  he  made  plans  for  coming  up  to  one  of  that  well- 
known  merchant's  wharves. 

"  Here  we  are  at  last !  "  exclaimed  the  master  mari 
ner.  "  I  can  find  my  way  across  the  sea  straight  to 
King's  Koad  and  Bristol  quay,  but  I  'm  easy  lost  in 
the  crooked  ways  of  a  town.  I  've  seen  the  port  of 
Bristol,  too,  a  score  o'  times  since  I  was  first  a  sailor, 
but  I  saw  it  never  so  dull  as  now.  There  it  is,  the 


304  THE  TORY  LOVER 

large  house  beyond,  to  the  port-hand  side.  He  lives 
like  a  nobleman,  does  old  Sir  Davis.  I  '11  leave  ye 
here  now,  and  go  my  ways  ;  they  've  sarvents  a  plenty 
to  see  ye  back  to  the  strand." 

The  shy  and  much  occupied  captain  now  made  haste 
toward  the  merchant's  counting-room,  and  Mary  hur 
ried  on  toward  the  house,  anxious  to  know  if  Madam 
Wallingford's  hopes  were  to  be  assured,  and  if  they 
should  find  Mistress  Davis  not  only  alive  and  well,  but 
ready  to  welcome  them.  As  she  came  nearer,  her 
heart  beat  fast  at  the  sight  of  a  lady's  trim  head,  white- 
capped,  and  not  without  distinction  of  look,  behind  the 
panes  of  a  bowed  window.  It  was  as  plain  that  this 
was  a  familiar  sight,  that  it  might  every  day  be  seen 
framed  in  its  place  within  the  little  panes,  as  if  Mary 
had  known  the  face  since  childhood,  and  watched  for 
a  daily  greeting  as  she  walked  a  Portsmouth  street  at 
home.  She  even  hesitated  for  a  moment,  looking 
eagerly,  ere  she  went  to  lift  the  bright  knocker  of  the 
street  door. 

In  a  minute  more  she  was  in  the  room. 

"  I  am  Mary  Hamilton,  of  Berwick,"  said  the  guest, 
with  pretty  eagerness,  "and  I  bring  you  love  and  greet 
ing  from  Madam  Wallingford,  your  old  friend." 

"  From  Madam  Wallingford  ?  "  exclaimed  the  host 
ess,  who  had  thought  to  see  a  neighbor's  daughter 
enter  from  the  street,  and  now  beheld  a  stranger,  a 
beautiful  young  creature,  with  a  beseeching  look  in  her 
half  familiar  face.  "  Come  you  indeed  from  old  Bar- 
vick,  my  dear  ?  You  are  just  off  the  sea  by  your  fresh 
looks.  I  was  thinking  of  cousin  Wallingford  within 
this  very  hour ;  I  grieved  to  think  that  now  we  are 
both  so  old  I  can  never  see  her  face  again.  So  you 
bring  me  news  of  her  ?  Sit  you  down  ;  I  can  say  that 


THEY  COME  TO   BRISTOL  305 

you  are  most  welcome."  Her  eyes  were  like  a  younger 
woman's,  and  they  never  left  Mary's  face. 

"  She  is  here ;  she  is  in  the  harbor,  on  board  the 
Golden  Dolphin,  one  of  her  own  ships.  I  have  not 
only  brought  news  to  you ;  I  have  brought  her  very 
self,"  said  the  girl  joyfully. 

There  was  a  quick  shadow  upon  the  hostess's  face. 
"  Alas,  then,  poor  soul,  I  fear  she  has  been  driven  from 
her  home  by  trouble  ;  she  would  be  one  of  the  Loyal 
ists  !  I  '11  send  for  her  at  once.  Come  nearer  me  ;  sit 
here  in  the  window  seat !  "  begged  Mistress  Davis 
affectionately.  "  You  are  little  Mary  Hamilton,  of  the 
fine  house  I  have  heard  of  and  never  seen,  the  pride 
of  my  dear  old  Barvick.  But  your  brother  would  not 
change  sides.  You  are  both  of  the  new  party,  —  I 
have  heard  all  that  months  ago ;  how  happens  it  that 
the  Golden  Dolphin  brought  you  hither,  too  ?  " 

Mary  seated  herself  in  the  deep  window,  while  Mis 
tress  Davis  gazed  at  her  wonderingiy.  She  had  a  ten 
der  heart ;  she  could  read  the  signs  of  great  effort 
and  of  loneliness  in  the  bright  girlish  face.  She  did 
not  speak,  but  her  long,  discerning  look  and  the  touch 
of  her  hand  gave  such  motherly  comfort  that  the  girl 
might  easily  have  fallen  to  weeping.  It  was  not  that 
Mary  thought  of  any  mean  pity  for  herself,  or  even 
remembered  that  her  dear  charge  had  sometimes  shown 
the  unconscious  selfishness  of  weakness  and  grief  ;  but 
brave  and  self -forgetful  hearts  always  know  the  true 
value  of  sympathy.  They  were  friends  and  lovers  at 
first  sight,  the  young  girl  and  the  elderly  woman  who 
was  also  Berwick-born. 

"  I  have  had  your  house  filled  to  its  least  garrets 
with  Royalists  out  of  my  own  country,  and  here  comes 


306  THE  TORY  LOVER 

still  another  of  them,  with  a  young  friend  who  is  of  the 
other  party,"  Mistress  Davis  said  gayly ;  and  the  guest 
looked  up  to  see  a  handsome  old  man  who  had  entered 
from  another  room,  and  who  frowned  doubtfully  as  he 
received  this  information.  Mary's  head  was  dark 
against  the  window,  and  he  took  small  notice  of  her  at 
first,  though  some  young  men  outside  in  the  street  had 
observed  so  much  of  her  beauty  as  was  visible,  and 
were  walking  to  and  fro  on  the  pavement,  hoping  for 
a  still  brighter  vision. 

"This  is  Miss  Mary  Hamilton,  of  Barvick,"  an 
nounced  the  mistress,  "  and  your  old  friend  Madam 
Wallingford  is  in  harbor,  on  one  of  her  ships."  She 
knew  that  she  need  say  no  more. 

Mr.  John  Davis,  alderman  of  Bristol  and  senior 
warden  of  his  parish  church,  now  came  forward  with 
some  gallantry  of  manner. 

"  I  do  not  like  to  lay  a  new  charge  upon  you,"  said 
his  wife,  pleading  prettily,  "  but  these  are  not  as  our 
other  fugitives,  poor  souls !  "  and  she  smiled  as  if  with 
some  confidence. 

"  Why,  no,  these  be  both  of  them  your  own  kins 
folk,  if  I  mistake  not,"  the  merchant  agreed  hand 
somely  ;  "  and  the  better  part  of  our  living  has  come, 
in  times  past,  from  my  dealings  with  the  husband  of 
one  and  the  good  brother  of  the  other.  I  should 
think  it  a  pity  if,  for  whatever  reason  they  may  have 
crossed  the  sea,  we  did  not  open  wide  our  door ;  you 
must  bid  your  maids  make  ready  for  their  comfortable 
housing.  I  shall  go  at  once  to  find  the  captain,  since 
he  has  come  safe  to  land  in  these  days  of  piracy,  and 
give  so  noble  a  gentlewoman  as  his  owner  my  best 
welcome  and  service  on  the  ship.  Perhaps  Miss  Ham- 


THEY  COME  TO  BRISTOL  307 

ilton  will  walk  with  me,  and  give  her  own  orders  about 
her  affairs?" 

Mary  stepped  forward  willingly  from  the  window, 
in  answer  to  so  kind  a  greeting ;  and  when  she  was 
within  close  range  of  the  old  man's  short-sighted  eyes, 
she  was  inspected  with  such  rapid  approval  and  happy 
surprise  that  Mr.  Alderman  Davis  bent  his  stately 
head  and  saluted  so  fair  a  brow  without  further  con 
sideration.  She  was  for  following  him  at  once  on  his 
kind  errand,  but  she  first  ran  back  and  kissed  the  dear 
mistress  of  the  house.  "  I  shall  have  much  to  tell  you 
of  home,"  she  whispered  ;  "you  must  spare  me  much 
time,  though  you  will  first  be  so  eager  for  your  own 
friend." 

"  We  shall  find  each  other  changed,  I  know,  —  we 
have  both  seen  years  and  trouble  enough ;  but  you 
must  tell  Mrs.  Wallingford  I  have  had  no  such  happi 
ness  in  many  a  year  as  the  sight  of  her  face  will  bring 
me.  And  dear  Nancy  Haggens  ?  "  she  asked,  holding 
Mary  back,  while  the. merchant  grew  impatient  at  the 
delay  of  their  whispering.  "  She  is  yet  alive  ?  "  And 
Mary  smiled. 

"  I  shall  tell  you  many  things,  not  only  of  her, 
but  of  the  gay  major,"  she  replied  aloud.  "Yes,  I 
am  coming,  sir ;  but  it  is  like  home  here,  and  I  am 
so  happy  already  in  your  kind  house."  Then  they 
walked  away  together,  he  with  a  clinking  cane  and 
majestic  air,  and  kindly  showing  Miss  Hamilton  all 
the  sights  of  Bristol  that  they  passed. 

"  So  you  sailed  on  the  Golden  Dolphin  ?  "  he  asked, 
as  they  reached  the  water  side.  "  She  is  a  small,  old 
vessel,  but  she  wears  well;  she  has  made  this  port 
many  a  time  before,"  said  John  Davis.  "  And  lumber- 


308  THE  TORY  LOVER 

laden,  you  say  ?  Well,  that  is  good  for  me,  and  you 
are  lucky  to  escape  the  thieving  privateers  out  of  your 
own  harbors.  So  Madam  Wallingford  has  borne  her 
voyage  handsomely,  you  think?  What  becomes  of 
her  young  son  ?  " 


XXXIV 

GOOD  ENGLISH  HEARTS 

"  'T  is  all  an  old  man  can  do,  to  say  his  prayers  for  his  country." 

LATE  that  evening,  while  the  two  elder  ladies  kept 
close  together,  and  spoke  eagerly  of  old  days  and 
friends  long  gone  out  of  sight,  John  Davis  sat  oppo 
site  his  young  guest  at  the  fireplace,  as  he  smoked  his 
after-supper  pipe. 

The  rich  oak-paneled  room  was  well  lit  by  both  fire 
light  and  candles,  and  held  such  peace  and  comfort 
as  Mary  never  had  cause  to  be  grateful  for  before. 
The  cold  dampness  of  the  brig,  their  close  quarters, 
and  all  the  dullness  and  impatience  of  the  voyage 
were  past  now,  and  they  were  safe  in  this  good  Eng 
lish  house,  among  old  friends.  It  was  the  threshold 
of  England,  too,  and  Roger  Wallingford  was  some 
where  within ;  soon  they  might  be  sailing  together  for 
home.  Even  the  worst  remembrance  of  the  sea  was 
not  unwelcome,  with  this  thought  at  heart ! 

The  voyagers  had  been  listening  to  sad  tales  of  the 
poverty  and  distress  of  nearly  all  the  Loyalist  refugees 
from  America,  the  sorrows  of  Governor  Hutchinson 
and  his  house,  and  of  many  others.  The  Sewalls 
and  Eussells,  the  Faneuils,  and  the  Boutineaus,  who 
were  still  in  Bristol,  had  already  sent  eager  messages. 
Mistress  Davis  warned  her  guests  that  next  day,  when 
news  was  spread  of  their  coming,  the  house  would  be 


310  THE  TORY  LOVER 

full  of  comers  and  goers ;  all  asking  for  news,  and 
most  of  them  for  money,  too.  Some  were  now  in 
really  destitute  circumstances  who  had  been  rich  at 
home,  and  pensions  and  grants  for  these  heartsick 
Loyalists  were  not  only  slow  in  coming,  but  pitiful  in 
their  meagreness.  There  was  a  poor  gentleman  from 
Salem,  and  his  wife  with  him,  living  in  the  Davises' 
house ;  they  had  lodged  upward  of  thirty  strangers 
since  the  year  came  in ;  it  was  a  heavy  charge  upon 
even  a  well-to-do  man,  for  they  must  nearly  all  borrow 
money  beside  their  food  and  shelter.  Madam  "Walling- 
ford  was  not  likely  to  come  empty-handed ;  the  heavy 
box  with  brass  scutcheons  which  the  captain  himself 
had  escorted  from  the  Golden  Dolphin,  late  that  after 
noon,  was  not  without  comfortable  reassurance,  and 
the  lady  had  asked  to  have  a  proper  English  waiting- 
maid  chosen  for  her,  as  she  did  not  wish  to  bring  a 
weight  upon  the  household.  But  there  were  other 
problems  to  be  faced.  This  good  merchant,  Mr.  Davis, 
was  under  obligations  to  so  old  a  friend,  and  he  was 
not  likely  to  be  a  niggard,  in  any  sense/when  she  did 
him  the  honor  to  seek  his  hospitality. 

"  I  must  go  to  my  library,  where  I  keep  my  business 
matters ;  't  is  but  a  plain  book  room,  a  place  for  my 
less  public  affairs.  We  may  have  some  private  talk 
there,  if  you  are  willing,"  he  said,  in  a  low  voice ;  and 
Mary  rose  at  once  and  followed  him.  The  ladies  did 
not  even  glance  their  way,  though  the  merchant  care 
fully  explained  that  he  should  show  his  guest  a  very 
great  ledger  which  had  been  brought  up  from  his 
counting-room  since  business  had  fallen  so  low.  She 
might  see  her  brother's  name  on  many  of  the  pages. 

"  Let  us  speak  frankly  now,"  he  urged,  as  they 
seated  themselves  by  as  bright  a  fire  of  blazing  coals 


GOOD   ENGLISH  HEARTS  311 

as  the  one  they  had  left.  "  You  can  trust  me  with 
all  your  troubles,"  said  the  fatherly  old  man.  "  I  am 
distressed  to  find  that  Madam  Wallingford's  case  is 
so  desperate." 

Mary  looked  up,  startled  from  the  peace  of  mind 
into  which  she  had  fallen. 

"Do  you  know  anything,  sir?"  she  begged  him 
earnestly.  "  Is  it  likely  "  —  But  there  she  stopped, 
and  could  go  no  further. 

"I  had  not  the  heart  to  tell  her,"  he  answered, 
"  but  we  have  already  some  knowledge  of  that  officer 
of  the  Ranger  who  was  left  ashore  at  Whitehaven  :  he 
has  been  reported  as  gravely  wounded,  and  they  would 
not  keep  him  in  any  jail  of  that  northern  region,  but 
sent  him  southward  in  a  dying  state,  saying  that  he 
should  by  rights  go  to  his  own  kind  in  the  Mill  Prison. 
You  must  be  aware  that  such  an  unprovoked  attack 
upon  a  British  seaport  has  made  a  great  stir  among 
us,"  added  the  merchant,  with  bitterness. 

Mary  remembered  the  burning  of  Falmouth  in  her 
own  province,  and  was  silent, 

"  If  he  had  been  a  deserter,  and  treacherous  at 
heart,  as  I  find  there  was  suspicion,"  he  continued ; 
"  yes,  even  if  his  own  proper  feelings  toward  the  King 
had  mastered  your  lieutenant,  I  do  not  know  that  his 
situation  would  have  been  any  better  for  the  moment. 
They  must  lack  spirit  in  Whitehaven ;  on  our  Bristol 
wharves  the  mob  would  have  torn  such  a  prisoner 
limb  from  limb.  You  must  remember  that  I  am  an 
Englishman  born  and  bred,  and  have  no  patience  with 
your  rebels.  I  see  now  't  was  a  calmer  judgment 
ruled  their  course  when  they  sent  him  south  ;  but  if 
he  is  yet  in  the  Mill  Prison,  and  alive,  he  could  not 
be  in  a  worse  place.  This  war  is  costing  the  King  a 


312  THE  TORY  LOVER 

fortune  every  week  that  it  goes  on,  and  lie  cannot 
house  such  pirates  and  spies  in  his  castle  at  Windsor." 

Mary's  eyes  flashed ;  she  was  keeping  a  firm  hold 
upon  her  patience.  "  I  think,  from  what  we  are  told 
of  the  Mill  Prison,  that  the  King  has  gone  too  far  to 
the  other  extreme,"  she  could  not  forbear  saying,  but 
with  perfect  quietness. 

"  Well,  we  are  not  here  to  talk  politics,"  said  the 
alderman  uneasily.  "  I  have  a  deep  desire  co  serve 
so  old  and  respected  a  friend  as  this  young  man's 
mother.  I  saw  the  boy  once  when  he  came  to  Eng 
land  ;  a  promising  lad,  I  must  own,  and  respectful  to 
his  elders.  I  am  ready  to  serve  him,  if  I  can,  for  his 
father's  sake,  and  to  put  all  talk  of  principles  by, 
or  any  question  of  his  deserts.  We  have  been  driven 
to  the  necessity  of  keeping  watchers  all  along  the 
sea-coast  by  night  and  day,  to  send  alarm  by  beacons 
into  our  towns.  They  say  Paul  Jones  is  a  born  divil, 
and  will  stick  at  nothing.  How  came  Colonel  Wal- 
lingford's  son  to  cast  in  his  lot  with  such  a  gallows 
rogue?  " 

"  If  you  had  lived  on  our  river  instead  of  here  in 
Bristol,  you  would  soon  know,"  Mary  answered  him. 
"  Our  honest  industries  have  long  been  hindered  and 
forbidden  ;  we  are  English  folk,  and  are  robbed  of 
our  rights." 

"  Well,  well,  my  dear,  you  seem  very  clear  for  a 
woman ;  but  I  am  an  old  man,  and  hard  to  convince. 
Your  brother  should  be  clear-headed  enough  ;  he  is  a 
man  of  judgment ;  but  how  such  men  as  he  have  come 
to  be  so  mistaken  and  blind  "  — 

"  It  is  Parliament  that  has  been  blind  all  the  time," 
insisted  Mary.  "  If  you  had  been  with  us  on  that 
side  of  the  sea,  you  would  be  among  the  first  to  know 


GOOD  ENGLISH  HEARTS  313 

things  as  they  are.  Let  us  say  no  more,  sir  ;  I  can 
not  lend  myself  to  argument.  You  are  so  kind  and 
I  am  so  very  grateful  for  it,  in  my  heart." 

"  Well,  well,"  exclaimed  the  old  man  again,  "  let 
us  speak,  then,  of  this  instant  business  that  you  have 
in  hand  !  I  take  it  you  have  a  heart  in  the  matter, 
too  ;  I  see  that  you  cherish  Madam  Wallingford  like 
"her  own  child.  We  must  find  out  if  the  lad  is  still 
alive,  and  whether  it  is  possible  to  free  him.  I  heard 
lately  that  they  have  had  the  worst  sort  of  small-pox 
among  them,  and  a  jail  fever  that  is  worse  than  the 
plague  itself.  'T  is  not  the  fault  of  the  jail,  I  wager 
you,  but  some  dirty  sailor  brought  it  from  his  foul 
ship,"  he  added  hastily.  "  They  are  all  crowded  in 
together ;  would  they  had  kept  at  home  where  they 
belong !  " 

"  You  speak  hard  words,"  said  the  girl  impatiently, 
and  with  plain  reproach,  but  looking  so  beautiful  in 
her  quick  anger  that  the  old  man  was  filled  with 
wonder  and  delight  before  his  conscience  reminded 
him  that  he  should  be  ashamed.  He  was  not  used 
to  being  so  boldly  fronted  by  his  own  women  folk ; 
though  his  wife  always  had  her  say,  she  feared  and 
obeyed  him  afterward  without  question. 

"  I  wish  that  this  foolish  tea  had  never  been  heard 
of;  it  has  been  a  most  detestable  weed  for  England," 
grumbled  the  old  merchant.  "They  say  that  even 
your  Indians  drink  it  now,  or  would  have  it  if  they 
could." 

"  Mr.  Davis,  you  have  seen  something  of  our  young 
country,"  said  the  girl,  speaking  in  a  quiet  tone. 
"  You  have  known  how  busy  our  men  are  at  home, 
how  steadily  they  go  about  their  business.  If  you 
had  seen,  as  I  did,  how  they  stood  straight,  and 


314  THE  TORY  LOVER 

dropped  whatever  they  had  in  hand,  and  were  hot 
with  rage  when  the  news  came  from  Boston  and 
we  knew  that  we  were  attacked  at  Lexington  and 
Concord,  you  would  have  learned  how  we  felt  the 
bitter  wrong.  'T  was  not  the  loss  of  our  tea  or  any 
trumpery  tax  ;  we  have  never  been  wanting  in  gen 
erosity,  or  hung  back  when  we  should  play  our  part. 
We  remembered  all  the  old  wrongs  :  our  own  tim 
ber  rotting  in  our  woods  that  we  might  not  cut ; 
our  own  waterfalls  running  to  waste  by  your  English 
law,  lest  we  cripple  the  home  manufacturers.  We 
were  hurt  to  the  heart,  and  were  provoked  to  fight ; 
we  have  turned  now  against  such  tyranny.  All  we 
New  England  women  sat  at  home  and  grieved.  The 
cannon  sounded  loud  through  our  peaceful  country. 
They  shut  our  ports,  and  we  could  not  stand  another 
insult  without  boldly  resenting  it.  We  had  patience 
at  first,  because  our  hearts  were  English  hearts  ;  then 
we  turned  and  fought  with  all  our  might,  because  we 
were  still  Englishmen,  and  there  is  plenty  of  fight  left 
in  us  yet." 

"  You  are  beset  by  the  pride  of  being  independent, 
and  all  for  yourselves,"  Mr.  Davis  accused  her. 

"  Our  hearts  are  wounded  to  the  quick,  because  we 
are  the  same  New  England  folk  who  fought  together 
with  the  King's  troops  at  Louisburg,  and  you  have 
oppressed  us,"  said  Mary  quickly.  "  I  heard  that  Mr. 
John  Adams  said  lately  —  and  he  has  been  one  of 
our  leaders  from  the  first  —  that  there  had  not  been 
a  moment  since  the  beginning  of  hostilities  when  he 
would  not  have  given  everything  he  possessed  for  a 
restoration  to  the  state  of  things  before  the  contest 
began,  if  we  could  only  have  security  for  its  continu 
ance.  We  did  not  wish  to  separate  from  England,  and 


GOOD  ENGLISH  HEARTS  315 

if  the  separation  has  come,  it  is  only  from  our  sad 
necessity.  Cannot  you  see  that,  being  English  people, 
we  must  insist  upon  our  rights  ?  We  are  not  another 
race  because  we  are  in  another  country." 

"Tut,  tut,  my  dear,"  said  the  old  man  uneasily. 
"  What  does  a  pretty  girl  like  you  know  about 
rights  ?  So  that 's  the  talk  you  've  listened  to  ?  We 
may  need  to  hear  more  of  it ;  you  sound  to  me  as  if 
Fox  had  all  along  been  in  the  right,  and  knew  the 
way  to  bring  back  our  trade."  He  began  to  fidget 
in  his  elbow  chair  and  to  mend  the  fire.  "  I  can't 
go  into  all  this  ;  I  have  had  a  wearying  day,"  — he 
began  to  make  faint  excuse.  "  There  's  much  you 
should  hear  on  England's  side  ;  you  only  know  your 
own  ;  and  this  war  is  costing  Parliament  a  terrible 
drain  of  money." 

"  Do  you  know  anything  of  Lord  Newburgh,  and 
where  he  may  be  found  ?  "  asked  Mary,  with  sudden 
directness. 

"  My  Lord  Newburgh  ?  "  repeated  Mr.  Davis  won- 
deringly.  "  And  what  should  you  want  with  him  ?  I 
know  him  but  by  name.  He  would  be  the  son  of  that 
Radcliffe  who  was  a  Scotch  rebel  in  '45,  and  lost  his 
head  by  it,  too ;  he  was  brother  to  the  famous  Lord 
Darwentwater.  'T  was  a  wild  family,  an  unfortunate 
house.  What  seek  you  at  their  hands  ?  " 

Mary  sat  looking  into  the  fire,  and  did  not  answer. 

"  Perhaps  you  can  send  some  one  with  me  toward 
Plymouth  to-morrow  ? "  she  asked  presently,  and 
trembled  a  little  as  she  spoke.  She  had  grown  pale, 
though  the  bright  firelight  shone  full  in  her  face. 
"  The  captain  learned  when  we  first  came  ashore 
that  Lord  Mount  Edgecumbe  is  likely  to  be  com- 


316  THE  TORY  LOVER 

mander  of  that  prison  where  our  men  are  ;  the  Mill 
Prison  they  said  it  was,  above  Plymouth  town.  I  did 
not  say  anything  to  Madam  Wallingford,  lest  our 
hopes  should  fail ;  but  if  you  could  spare  a  proper 
person  to  go  with  me,  I  should  like  to  go  to  Ply 
mouth." 

The  old  man  gazed  at  her  with  wonder. 

"  You  do  not  know  what  a  wild  goose  chase  means, 
then,  my  little  lady  !  "  he  exclaimed,  with  consider 
able  scorn.  "  Lord  Mount  Edgecumbe  !  You  might 
as  well  go  to  Windsor  expecting  a  morning  talk  and 
stroll  in  the  park  along  with  the  King.  'T  is  evident 
enough  one  person  is  the  same  as  another  in  your 
colonies !  But  if  you  wish  to  try,  I  happened  to  hear 
yesterday  that  the  great  earl  is  near  by,  in  Bath, 
where  he  takes  the  waters  for  his  gout.  You  can  go 
first  to  Mr.  George  Fairfax,  of  Virginia,  with  whom 
Madam  Wallingford  is  acquainted  ;  she  has  told  me 
that  already.  He  is  of  a  noble  house,  himself,  Mr. 
Fairfax,  and  may  know  how  to  get  speech  with  these 
gentlemen  :  why,  yes,  't  is  a  chance,  indeed,  and  we 
might  achieve  something."  Mr.  Davis  gave  a  satis 
fied  look  at  the  beautiful  face  before  him,  and  nodded 
his  sage  head. 

"  I  shall  go  with  you,  myself,  if  it  is  a  fair  day  to 
morrow,"  he  assured  her.  "  I  am  on  good  terms  with 
Mr.  Fairfax.  I  was  long  agent  here  for  their  tobacco 
ships,  the  old  Lord  Fairfaxes  of  Virginia  ;  but  all  that 
rich  trade  is  good  as  done,"  and  he  gave  a  heavy  sigh. 
"  We  think  of  your  sailors  in  the  Mill  Prison  as  if 
they  were  all  divils.  You  won't  find  it  easy  to  get  one 
of  them  set  free,"  he  added  boldly. 

Mary  gave  a  startled  look,  and  drew  back  a  little. 
"  I  hear  the  King  is  glad  to  ship  them  on  his  men-of- 


GOOD  ENGLISH  HEARTS  317 

war,"  she  said,  "  and  that  the  Mill  Prison  is  so  vile  a 
place  the  poor  fellows  are  thankful  to  escape  from  it, 
even  if  they  must  turn  traitor  to  their  own  cause." 

"  Oh,  sailors  are  sailors  !  "  grumbled  the  old  man. 
"  I  find  Madam  Wallingford  most  loyal  to  the  King, 
however,  so  that  there  is  a  chance  for  her.  And  she 
is  no  beggar  or  would-be  pensioner  ;  far  from  it !  If 
her  foolish  son  had  been  on  any  other  errand  than  this 
of  the  Ranger's,  she  might  easier  gain  her  ends,  poor 
lady.  '  What  stands  in  the  way  ? '  you  may  ask.  Why, 
only  last  week  our  own  coast  was  in  a  panic  of  fear !  " 
John  Davis  frowned  at  the  fire,  so  that  his  great  eye 
brows  looked  as  if  they  were  an  assaulting  battery. 
He  shrugged  his  shoulders  angrily,  and  puffed  hard 
at  his  pipe,  but  it  had  gone  out  altogether  ;  then  he 
smiled,  and  spoke  in  a  gentler  tone :  — 

"  Yes,  missy,  we  '11  ride  to  Bath  to-morrow,  an  the 
weather  should  be  fair ;  the  fresh  air  will  hearten  you 
after  the  sea,  and  we  can  talk  with  Mr.  Fairfax,  and 
see  what  may  be  done.  I  'm  not  afraid  to  venture, 
though  they  may  know  you  for  a  little  rebel,  and  set 
me  up  to  wear  a  wooden  ruff  all  day  in  the  pillory  for 
being  seen  with  you !  " 

"  I  must  speak  ye  some  hard  words,"  the  old  man 
added  unexpectedly,  leaning  forward  and  whispering 
under  his  breath,  as  if  the  solid  oak  panels  might  let 
his  forebodings  reach  a  mother's  ears  in  the  room  be 
yond.  "  The  young  man  may  be  dead  and  gone  long 
before  this,  if  he  was  put  into  the  Mill  Prison  while 
yet  weak  from  his  wounds.  If  he  is  there,  and  alive, 
I  think  the  King  himself  would  say  he  could  not  let 
him  out.  There  's  not  much  love  lost  in  England  now 
for  Paul  Jones  or  any  of  his  crew." 


XXXV 

A   STRANGER   AT   HOME 

"  Would  that  she  had  told  us  of  the  trials  of  that  time,  and  why  it 
was  that  her  heart  rose  against  the  new  world  and  the  new  manners 
to  which  she  had  come  !  " 

THE  next  morning  Miss  Hamilton  came  down 
dressed  in  her  riding  gear,  to  find  her  host  already 
in  the  saddle  and  armed  with  a  stout  hunting  crop, 
which  he  flourished  emphatically  as  he  gave  some 
directions  to  his  groom.  The  day  was  fine  and  clear 
after  a  rainy  night,  with  a  hearty  fragrance  of  the 
showery  summer  fields  blowing  through  the  Bristol 
streets. 

They  were  quick  outside  the  town  on  the  road  to 
Bath.  Mary  found  herself  well  mounted,  though  a 
little  too  safely  for  her  liking.  Her  horse  was  heavy 
of  build,  being  used  to  the  burden  of  a  somewhat 
ponderous  master  ;  but  the  lighter  weight  and  easy 
prompting  hand  of  a  young  girl  soon  made  him  like  a 
brave  colt  again.  The  old  merchant  looked  on  with 
approval  at  such  pretty  skill  and  acquaintance  with 
horsemanship  as  his  companion  showed  at  the  outset 
of  their  journey ;  and  presently,  when  both  the  good 
horses  had  finished  their  discreet  frolic  and  settled  to 
sober  travel,  he  fell  into  easy  discourse,  and  showed 
the  fair  rider  all  the  varied  interests  of  the  way.  It 
was  a  busy  thoroughfare,  and  this  honored  citizen  was 
smiled  at  and  handsomely  saluted  by  many  acquaint- 


A  STRANGER  AT  HOME  319 

ances,  noble  and  humble.  Mr.  Davis  was  stingy  of 
holidays,  even  in  these  dull  times,  but  all  the  gal 
lantry  he  had  ever  possessed  was  glowing  in  his  heart 
as  he  rode  soberly  along  in  such  pleasant  company. 

The  dreary  suspense  and  anxiety  of  six  long  weeks 
at  sea  were  like  a  half -forgotten  dream  in  the  girl's  own 
mind ;  at  last  she  could  set  forth  about  her  business. 
The  sorrows  of  seafaring  were  now  at  an  end  ;  she  was 
in  England  at  last,  and  the  very  heart  of  the  mother 
country  seemed  to  welcome  her  ;  yet  a  young  heart 
like  Mary  Hamilton's  must  needs  feel  a  twinge  of  pain 
at  the  height  of  her  morning's  happiness.  The  fields 
and  hedges,  the  bright  foxglove  and  green  ivy,  the  larks 
and  blackbirds  and  quiet  robins,  the  soft  air  against  her 
cheeks,  —  each  called  up  some  far-inherited  memory, 
some  instinct  of  old  relationship.  All  her  elders  in 
Berwick  still  called  England  home,  and  her  thrilled 
heart  had  come  to  know  the  reason. 

Roger  Wallingford  had  lived  in  England.  She 
suddenly  understood  against  her  will  why  he  could 
find  it  so  hard  to  go  to  sea  in  the  Ranger  to  attack 
these  shores,  and  why  he  had  always  protested  against 
taking  part  in  the  war.  England  was  no  longer  an 
angry,  contemptuous  enemy,  tyrannous  and  exacting, 
and  determined  to  withhold  the  right  of  liberty  from 
her  own  growing  colonies.  All  those  sad,  familiar 
prejudices  faded  away,  and  Mary  could  only  see  white 
clouds  in  a  soft  sky  above  the  hazy  distance,  and  hear 
the  English  birds  singing,  and  meet  the  honest  Eng 
lish  faces,  like  old  friends,  as  she  rode  along  the  road. 
There  was  some  witchery  that  bewildered  her  ;  it  was 
like  some  angry  quarrel  sprung  up  between  mother  and 
child  while  they  were  at  a  distance  from  each  other, 
that  must  be  quick  forgotten  when  they  came  face  to 


320  THE  TORY  LOVER 

face.  There  was  indeed  some  magic  touch  upon  her : 
the  girl's  heart  was  beating  fast ;  she  was  half  afraid 
that  she  had  misunderstood  everything  in  blaming  old 
England  so  much,  and  even  stole  a  quick  glance  at  her 
companion  to  see  if  he  could  have  guessed  her  strange 
thoughts. 

"  'T  is  a  pretty  morning,"  said  Mr.  Davis  kindly, 
seeing  that  she  looked  his  way.  "  We  shall  reach  Bath 
in  proper  season,"  and  he  let  his  horse  come  to  a  slow 
walk. 

Whether  it  was  the  fresh  air  of  the  summer  day, 
very  strengthening  to  one  who  had  been  long  at  sea, 
or  whether  it  was  the  justice  of  their  errand  itself,  the 
weakness  of  this  happy  moment  quickly  passed,  and 
Miss  Hamilton's  hand  eagerly  sought  for  a  packet 
in  the  bosom  of  her  gown,  to  see  if  it  were  safe.  The 
reason  for  being  on  this  side  the  sea  was  the  hope  that 
an  anxious  errand  could  be  well  done.  She  thought 
now  of  Master  Sullivan  on  his  bleak  New  England 
hillside  ;  of  the  far  blue  mountains  of  the  north  country, 
and  the  outlook  that  was  clearer  and  wider  than  this 
hazy  landscape  along  the  Avon  ;  she  looked  down  at 
the  tame  English  river,  and  only  remembered  the  wide 
stream  at  home  that  ran  from  the  mountains  straight 
to  sea,  —  how  it  roared  and  droned  over  the  great 
rocky  fall  near  the  master's  own  house,  and  sounded 
like  the  calling  sea  itself  in  his  ears. 

"  You  may  see  Bath  now,  there  in  the  valley,"  said 
Mr.  Davis,  pointing  with  his  big  hand  and  the  hunt 
ing  crop.  "  'T  is  as  fine  a  ride  from  Bristol  to  Bath 
as  any  you  may  have  in  England."  They  stopped 
their  horses,  a  little  short  of  breath,  and  looked  down 
the  rich  wooded  country  to  the  bright  town  below. 

"  'T  is  a  fine  ride  indeed,"  said  Mary,  patting  her 


A   STRANGER  AT  HOME  321 

horse's  neck,  and  thinking,  with  uncontrollable  wist- 
fulness,  of  the  slenderer  and  less  discreet  young  Duke 
at  home,  and  of  the  old  coachman  and  his  black  helpers 
as  they  always  stood  by  the  stable,  eager  to  watch  her, 
with  loud  cautions,  as  she  rode  away.  It  was  a  sharp 
touch  of  homesickness,  and  she  turned  her  head  so  that 
she  could  hide  her  face  from  sight. 

"  I  '11  change  with  you,  my  dear,  as  we  ride  toward 
home ;  I  see  you  are  so  competent  a  rider,"  offered 
Mr.  Davis  heartily.  "  Lightfoot  is  a  steady  beast, 
though  I  must  own  you  found  him  otherwise  this 
morning  ;  this  chestnut  is  younger  and  freer-gaited." 
He  had  a  strange  sense,  as  he  spoke,  that  Mary  was 
no  longer  in  good  spirits.  Perhaps  the  heavy  horse 
had  tired  her  strength,  though  Lightfoot  was  as  good 
a  creature  as  any  in  Bristol,  and  much  admired  for  his 
noble  appearance. 

Mary  eagerly  protested,  and  patted  the  old  horse 
with  still  greater  friendliness  and  approval  as  they  went 
riding  on  toward  the  town.  The  alderman  sighed  at 
the  very  sight  of  her  youth  and  freshness  ;  it  would  be 
pleasant  to  have  such  a  daughter  for  his  own.  A  man 
likes  young  company  as  he  grows  older  ;  though  the 
alderman  might  be  growing  clumsy  on  his  own  legs, 
the  good  horse  under  him  made  him  feel  like  a  lad  of 
twenty.  This  was  a  fine  day  to  ride  out  from  Bristol, 
and  the  weather  of  the  best.  Mr.  Davis  began  to 
mind  him  of  an  errand  of  business  to  Westbury  on 
Trym,  beyond  the  Clifton  Downs,  where,  on  the  mor 
row,  he  could  show  Miss  Hamilton  still  finer  prospects 
than  these. 

They  stopped  at  last  before  a  handsome  lodging  in 
the  middle  of  the  town  of  Bath.  Mr.  George  Fairfax 
was  a  Virginian,  of  old  Lord  Bryan  Fairfax's  near 


322  THE   TORY  LOVER 

kindred,  a  man  of  great  wealth,  and  a  hearty  Loyalist ; 
his  mother,  a  Gary  of  Hampton,  had  been  well  known 
to  Madam  Wallingford  in  their  early  years.  He  was 
at  home  this  day,  and  came  out  at  once  to  receive  his 
guests  with  fine  hospitality,  being  on  excellent  terms 
of  friendship  with  the  old  merchant.  They  greeted 
each  other  with  great  respect  before  Miss  Hamilton's 
presence  was  explained  ;  and  then  Mr.  Fairfax's  smil 
ing  face  was  at  once  clouded.  He  had  been  the  hope 
and  stay  of  so  many  distressed  persons,  in  these  anx 
ious  days  of  war,  that  he  could  only  sigh  as  he  listened. 
It  was  evident  enough  that,  however  charming  this  new 
sufferer  and  applicant  might  be,  their  host  could  but 
regret  her  errand.  Yet  one  might  well  take  pleasure 
in  her  lovely  face,  even  if  she  must  be  disappointed, 
as  most  ladies  were,  in  the  hope  of"  receiving  an  instant 
and  ample  pension  from  the  Ministers  of  His  Majesty 
George  the  Third. 

Mr.  Fairfax,  with  great  courtesy,  began  to  say  some 
thing  of  his  regrets  and  fears. 

"  But  we  do  not  ask  for  these  kind  favors,"  Mary 
interrupted  him,  with  gentle  dignity.  "  You  mistake 
our  present  errand,  sir.  Madam  Wallingford  is  in  no 
need  of  such  assistance.  We  are  provided  with  what 
money  we  are  like  to  need,  as  our  good  friend  here 
must  already  know.  The  people  at  home"  —  and 
she  faltered  for  one  moment  before  she  could  go  on. 
"  It  was  indeed  thought  best  that  Madam  Wallingford 
should  be  absent  for  a  time  ;  but  she  was  glad  to  come 
hither  for  her  son's  sake,  who  is  in  prison.  We  have 
come  but  to  find  him  and  to  set  him  free,  and  we  ask  for 
your  advice  and  help.  Here  is  her  letter,"  and  Miss 
Hamilton  hesitated  and  blushed  with  what  seemed  to 
both  the  gentlemen  a  most  pretty  confusion.  "  I  ought 


A  STRANGER  AT  HOME  323 

to  tell  you,  Mr.  Fairfax  —  I  think  you  should  know, 
sir,  that  I  am  of  the  Patriots.  My  brother  was  with 
General  Washington,  with  his  own  regiment,  when 
I  left  home." 

Mr.  George  ^Fairfax  bowed  ceremoniously,  but  his 
eyes  twinkled  a  little,  and  he  took  instant  refuge  in 
reading  the  letter.  This  was  evidently  an  interesting 
case,  but  not  without  its  difficulties. 

"  The  young  gentleman  in  question  also  appears  to 
be  a  Patriot,"  he  said  seriously,  as  he  looked  up  at  Mr. 
Davis.  "  In  Miss  Hamilton's  presence  I  must  drop 
our  usual  term  of  '  rebel.'  Madam  Wallingford  pro 
fesses  herself  unshaken  in  her  hereditary  allegiance  to 
the  Crown  ;  but  as  for  this  young  officer,  her  son,  I  am 
astonished  to  find  that  he  has  been  on  board  the  Ranger 
with  that  Paul  Jones  who  is  the  terror  of  all  our  ports 
now,  and  the  chief  pest  and  scourge  of  our  commerce 
here  in  England.  'T  is  a  distressed  parent,  indeed  !  " 

"  You  have  the  right  of  it,"  said  the  old  British 
merchant,  with  great  eagerness  and  reproach.  Mr. 
Davis  was  not  a  man  who  found  it  easy  to  take  the 
humorous  point  of  view.  "  It  seems  that  he  was  left 
ashore,  that  night  of  the  attack  upon  Whitehaven,  in 
the  north,  which  you  will  well  remember.  He  was 
caught  by  the  town  guard.  You  know  that  we  captured 
one  of  the  Ranger's  men  ?  'T  was  this  same  young 
officer,  and,  though  badly  wounded,  he  was  ordered  to 
the  Mill  Prison,  and  is  said  to  have  arrived  in  a  dying 
state.  For  his  mother's  sake  (and  her  face  would  dis 
tress  any  man's  heart),  I  try  to  believe  that  he  is  yet 
alive  and  lies  there  in  the  jail ;  but  't  is  a  sorry  house 
of  correction  that  he  has  come  to  through  his  own 
foolishness.  They  say  he  is  like  to  have  been  hanged 
already." 


324  THE   TORY  LOVER 

"  Good  God  !  what  a  melancholy  story,  and  all  Eng 
land  thinking  that  he  deserves  his  fate  !  "  exclaimed 
Fairfax.  "  I  cannot  see  how  anything  can  be  done." 

"  There  is  but  one  gleam  of  hope,"  said  Mr.  Davis. 
who  had  not  sat  among  the  Bristol  magistrates  in 
vain.  He  spoke  pompously,  but  with  some  kindness 
for  Miss  Hamilton,  who  was  listening  sadly  enough, 
the  eager  bravery  of  her  face  all  gone  ;  their  last 
words  had  been  very  hard  to  bear.  "  There  is  one 
thing  to  add.  The  story  reached  America,  before  these 
good  friends  left,  that  young  Mr.  Wallingford  was 
suspected  by  many  persons  on  board  the  Ranger  of 
still  holding  to  his  early  Loyalist  principles.  They 
openly  accused  him  of  an  effort  to  betray  the  ship  into 
our  hands.  If  this  is  true  "  — 

"  It  is  not  true  !  "  interrupted  Miss  Hamilton,  and 
both  the  gentlemen  looked  a  little  startled.  "  No,  it  is 
not  true,"  she  repeated  more  calmly.  "It  is  not  a 
proper  plea  to  make,  if  he  should  never  be  set  free." 

"  We  must  think  of  his  mother  ;  we  are  only  review 
ing  the  situation  in  our  own  fashion,"  said  the  elder 
man,  frowning  a  stern  rebuke  at  her.  But  she  would 
have  her  way. 

"  Mr.  Davis  has  been  very  kind  in  the  matter,"  she 
continued.  "  When  we  were  speaking  together,  last 
night,  he  told  me  that  Lord  Mount  Edgecumbe  was 
now  in  Bath,  and  would  have  great  influence  about  the 
American  prisoners." 

"That  is  true,"  said  Mr.  Fairfax  politely ;  "  but  I 
do  not  possess  the  honor  of  his  lordship's  acquaintance, 
and  I  fear  that  I  have  no  means  of  reaching  him.  He 
is  in  bad  health,  and  but  lately  arrived  in  Bath  to  take 
the  waters." 

"  Miss  Hamilton  has  brought  letters  "  — 


A  STRANGER   AT  HOME  325 

"  I  have  some  letters,  given  me  by  an  old  friend  at 
home,"  acknowledged  Mary.  "  The  writer  was  very 
sure  that  they  would  be  of  use  to  us.  Do  you  happen 
to  know  anything  of  Lord  Newburgh,  sir,  and  where 
he  may  be  found  ?  " 

"  Lord  Newburgh  ?  "  repeated  the  Virginian  eagerly, 
with  a  quick  shake  of  his  head  and  a  sudden  frown, 
though  there  was  again  a  twinkle  of  merriment  in  his 
eyes.  Mary's  best  hopes  suddenly  fell  to  the  ground. 
She  was  aware  as  she  had  not  been  before  upon  how 
slight  a  foundation  these  best  hopes  might  have  been 
built.  She  had  always  looked  up  to  Master  Sullivan 
with  veneration  ;  the  mystery  of  his  presence  was  like 
an  enchantment  to  those  who  knew  him  best.  But  he 
had  been  a  long  lifetime  in  America ;  he  might  have 
written  his  letters  to  dead  men  only ;  they  might  be 
worth  no  more  than  those  withered  oak  leaves  of  last 
year  that  were  fluttering  on  the  hedges,  pierced  by  a 
new  growth. 

There  was  a  pause.  Mr.  Fairfax's  face  seemed  full 
of  pity.  Miss  Hamilton  began  to  resent  his  open  show 
of  sympathy. 

"  I  am  strangely  inhospitable  !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  We 
were  so  quick  at  our  business  that  I  forgot  to  offer 
you  anything,  sir,  and  you,  Miss  Hamilton,  after  your 
morning's  ride !  No,  no,  it  is  no  trouble.  You  will 
excuse  me  for  a  moment  ?  I  am  like  to  forget  my 
good  bringing  up  in  Virginia,  and  my  lady  is  just  now 
absent  from  home." 

Mr.  Fairfax  quickly  left  the  room.  The  alderman 
sat  there  speechless,  but  looking  satisfied  and  com 
placent.  It  certainly  did  make  a  man  thirsty  to  ride 
abroad  on  a  sunshiny  morning,  and  his  ears  were 
sharp-set  for  the  comfortable  clink  of  glasses.  The 


326  THE   TORY  LOVER 

heavy  tray  presently  arrived,  and  was  put  near  him 
on  a  card  table,  and  the  old  butler,  with  his  pleasant 
Virginian  speech,  was  eager  in  the  discharge  of  hos 
pitality  ;  Mr.  Fairfax  being  still  absent,  and  Mary 
quite  at  the  end  of  her  courage.  She  could  not  take 
the  cool  draught  which  old  Peter  offered  her  with  re 
spectful  entreaties,  as  if  he  were  Caesar,  their  own  old 
slave ;  she  tried  to  look  at  the  hunting  pictures  on  the 
wall,  but  they  blurred  strangely,  —  there  was  some 
thing  the  matter  with  her  eyes. 

"  What  noble  Jamaica  spirits ! "  said  Mr.  John 
Davis,  looking  at  the  ceiling  with  affected  indiffer 
ence  as  his  glass  was  being  replenished.  "Did  your 
master  grow  these  lemons  on  his  own  plantations  in 
Virginia?  They  are  of  a  wondrous  freshness,"  he 
added  politely,  to  repeat  his  approval  of  such  an  en 
tertainment.  "  Miss  Hamilton,  my  dear,  you  forget 
we  must  take  the  long  ride  back  again  to  Bristol.  I 
fear  you  make  a  great  mistake  to  refuse  any  refresh 
ment  at  good  Peter's  hands." 

The  door  was  thrown  open  and  Mr.  Fairfax  made 
a  handsome,  middle-aged  gentleman  precede  him  into 
the  room. 

"  I  was  afraid  that  I  should  miss  this  noble  friend," 
he  said  gayly ;  "  he  might  have  been  taking  advantage 
of  so  fine  a  morning,  like  yourselves.  Here  is  my 
Lord  Newburgh,  Miss  Hamilton  ;  this  is  Lord  New- 
burgh  himself  for  you  !  You  must  have  heard  of  the 
Honorable  Mr.  Davis,  of  Bristol,  my  lord  ?  —  one  of 
their  great  merchants.  I  have  told  you  already  that 
Miss  Hamilton  brings  you  a  letter,  and  that  she  hopes 
for  your  interest  with  my  Lord  Mount  Edgecumbe. 
My  dear  Miss  Hamilton,  this  gives  me  great  pleasure ! 


A  STRANGER  AT  HOME  327 

When  you  said  that  you  had  brought  such  a  letter,  I 
was  sure  at  last  that  there  was  one  thing  I  could  do 
for  you." 

Lord  Newburgh  gravely  saluted  these  new  acquaint 
ances,  taking  quick  notice  of  the  lady's  charm,  and 
smiling  over  his  shoulder  at  Mr.  Fairfax's  excited 
manner.  He  waved  his  hand  in  kind  protest  to  check 
Peter's  officious  approach  with  the  tray  of  glasses. 

"  So  you  have  a  letter  for  me,  from  America,  Miss 
Hamilton  ? "  he  asked  bluntly  ;  and  she  put  it  into 
his  hand. 

Lord  Newburgh  gave  a  curious  look  at  the  carefully 
written  address,  and  turned  the  folded  sheet  to  see 
the  seal.  Then  he  flushed  like  a  man  in  anger  and 
bit  his  lip  as  he  looked  at  the  seal  again,  and  started 
back  as  he  stood  close  by  the  window,  so  that  they  all 
saw  him.  Then  he  tore  open  Master  Sullivan's  letter. 

"  It  is  dated  this  very  last  month  !  "  he  cried.  "My 
God !  do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  this  man  is  still 
alive?" 


XXXVI 

MY  LORD  NEWBURGH'S  KINDNESS 

"  Thus  says  my  King  :  Say  thou  to  Harry  of  England,  though  we 
seemed  dead,  we  did  but  sleep." 

"  WHAT  man  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Fairfax  and  Mr.  Davis, 
with  eager  curiosity,  seeing  such  astonishment  upon 
his  face  ;  but  Lord  Newburgh  made  them  no  answer 
until  he  had  read  the  letter  and  carefully  folded  it 
again.  They  saw  his  hands  tremble.  He  stood  look 
ing  blankly  at  the  two  men  and  Miss  Hamilton,  as  if 
he  were  in  doubt  what  to  say. 

"  'T  is  like  one  risen  from  the  dead,"  he  told  them 
presently,  "  but  what  is  written  here  is  proof  enough 
for  me.  There  are  some  things  which  cannot  be 
spoken  of  even  after  all  these  years,  but  I  can  say 
this  :  't  was  a  friend  of  my  poor  father,  Charles  Rad- 
cliffe,  and  of  his  brother,  Darwentwater,  —  one  of 
their  unlucky  company  sixty  years  ago.  There  are 
high  reasons,  and  of  State  too,  why,  beyond  this,  I 
must  still  keep  silence.  Great  heavens,  what  a  page 
of  history  is  here !  "  and  he  opened  the  letter  to  look 
at  it  once  more. 

"  Mount  Edgecumbe  will  not  believe  me,"  he  said, 
as  if  to  himself.  "  Well,  at  least  he  knows  something 
of  those  old  days,  too  ;  he  will  be  ready  to  do  what 
he  can  for  such  a  petitioner  as  this,  but  we  must  be 
careful.  I  should  like  to  speak  with  Miss  Hamilton 
alone,  if  you  will  leave  us  here  together,  gentlemen," 


MY  LORD   NEWBUKGH'S   KINDNESS          329 

said  Lord  Newburgh,  with  quiet  authority ;  and  Mr. 
Fairfax  and  the  alderman,  disappointed,  but  with 
ready  courtesy,  left  them  alone  in  the  room. 

"  Do  you  know  the  writer  of  this  letter,  madam  ?  " 
demanded  Lord  Newburgh ;  and  he  was  so  well 
aware  of  the  girl's  beauty  that,  while  he  spoke,  his 
eyes  scarcely  left  her  face.  "'T  is  true  he  speaks  your 
name  here  and  with  affection,  but  I  cannot  think  his 
history  is  known." 

Mary  smiled  then,  and  answered  gently  to  her  life 
long  acquaintance  with  the  master  and  her  deep  love 
for  him,  but  that  his  early  life  was  a  matter  of  con 
jecture  to  those  who  had  longest  been  his  neighbors. 
Lord  Newburgh  saw  with  approval  that  she  knew 
more  than  she  was  ready  to  confess. 

"  He  has  followed  the  great  Example,  —  he  has 
given  his  life  for  his  friend,"  said  Lord  Newburgh, 
who  showed  himself  much  moved,  when  she  had  fin 
ished  speaking.  "  They  should  know  of  this  among 
our  friends  in  France  ;  by  God's  truth,  the  King  him 
self  should  know  but  for  his  present  advisers !  I 
must  say  no  more ;  you  can  see  how  this  strange  news 
has  shaken  me.  He  asks  a  thing  difficult  enough ; 
he  has  broken  his  long  silence  for  no  light  reason. 
But  Mount  Edgecumbe  will  feel  as  I  do,  —  whatever 
he  asks  should  be  promised  him  ;  and  Mount  Edge 
cumbe  has  power  in  Plymouth  ;  even  with  Barring- 
ton  reigning  in  the  War  Office  he  is  not  likely  to  be 
refused,  though  Barringtoii  is  a  narrow  soul,  and  we 
can  give  no  reasons  such  as  make  our  own  way  plain. 
Your  man  shan't  stay  in  the  Mill  Prison,  I  can  pro 
mise  you  that,  Ranger  or  no  Ranger !  " 

Lord  Newburgh  smiled  now  at  Miss  Hamilton,  as 
if  to  bring  a  look  of  pleasure  to  so  sweet  a  face,  and 
she  could  not  but  smile  back  at  him. 


330  THE  TORY  LOVER 

"  I  shall  do  my  part  of  this  business  at  once,"  he 
said,  rising.  "  I  passed  Mount  Edgecumbe  on  my 
way  here ;  he  '11  swear  roundly  at  such  a  request. 
He  fears  again  that  his  great  oaks  must  go  down, 
and  his  temper  is  none  of  the  best.  The  Earl  is  an 
old  sailor,  my  dear  Miss  Hamilton,  and  has  a  sailor's 
good  heart,  but  this  will  stagger  him  well.  You  say 
that  Madam  Wallingford,  the  young  man's  mother,  is 
now  in  Bristol  ?  "  and  again  he  looked  at  the  letter. 
"  Stay  ;  before  I  speak  with  the  Earl  I  should  like  to 
hear  more  of  these  interesting  circumstances.  I  must 
say  that  my  own  sympathies  are  mainly  with  your 
party  in  the  colonies.  I  believe  that  the  King  has 
been  made  a  tool  of  by  some  of  his  ministers.  But  I 
should  not  say  this  if  you  are  one  of  the  Loyalist  refu 
gees.  Why,  no,  my  dear ! "  He  checked  himself, 
laughing.  "  'T  is  a  strange  confusion.  I  cannot  think 
you  are  for  both  hound  and  hare !  " 

It  was  near  an  hour  later  when  Mr.  Fairfax  fum 
bled  at  the  latch  to  see  if  he  might  be  of  service,  and 
was  politely  though  not  too  warmly  requested  to  enter. 
Mr.  John  Davis  had  grown  fretful  at  their  long  delay, 
but  Miss  Hamilton  and  Lord  Newburgh  were  still 
deep  in  their  conversation.  The  young  lady  herself 
had  been  close  to  her  brother's  confidence,  and  was 
not  ignorant  of  causes  in  this  matter  of  the  war. 
Lord  Newburgh  struck  his  fist  to  the  table  with  em 
phatic  approval,  as  he  rose,  and  told  the  two  gen 
tlemen  who  entered  that  he  had  learned  at  last  what 
all  England  ought  to  know,  —  the  true  state  of  affairs 
in  America. 

The  Virginia  Loyalist  looked  disturbed,  and  showed 
some  indifference  to  this  bold  announcement. 


MY  LORD  NEWBURGH'S  KINDNESS          331 

"  Come,  Fairfax,"  cried  the  guest  gayly,  "  I  shall 
have  arguments  enough  for  ye  now !  I  can  take  the 
Patriot  side  with  intelligence,  instead  of  what  you 
have  persisted  in  calling  my  ignorant  prejudice." 

"  'T  is  your  new  teacher,  then,  and  not  your  rea 
soning  powers,"  retorted  Fairfax ;  and  they  both  fell 
to  laughing,  while  Mary  fell  to  blushing  and  looking 
more  charming  than  before. 

"  Well,  Miss  Hamilton,  and  is  your  business  for 
warded  ?  Then  we  must  be  off ;  the  day  is  well 
squandered  already,"  said  John  Davis. 

"  I  shall  first  take  Miss  Hamilton  to  our  good 
housekeeper  for  a  dish  of  tea  before  she  rides  home," 
protested  the  host  kindly.  "  I  am  grieved  that  my 
lady  is  not  here ;  but  our  housekeeper,  Mrs.  Mullet, 
can  offer  the  dish  of  tea,  if  so  stern  a  Boston  Patriot 
does  not  forbid.  You  will  try  the  Jamaica  spirits 
again  yourself,  sir  ?  A  second  glass  may  be  better 
than  the  first,  Mr.  Alderman  !  " 

"  I  shall  speak  with  my  friends  as  to  these  Ply 
mouth  affairs,  and  do  my  best  for  you,"  Lord  New- 
burgh  kindly  assured  Miss  Hamilton,  as  they  parted. 
"  You  shall  see  me  in  Bristol  to-morrow.  Ah,  this  let 
ter  !  "  and  he  spoke  in  a  low  voice.  "  It  has  touched 
my  heart  to  think  that  you  know  so  well  our  sad  in 
heritance.  My  poor  father  and  poor  Darwentwater  ! 
Every  one  here  knows  their  melancholy  fate,  their 
'  sad  honors  of  the  axe  and  block ;  '  but  there  were 
things  covered  in  those  days  that  are  secrets  still  in 
England.  He  speaks  of  the  Newgate  supper  to  me! 
.  .  .  '  Twas  he  himself  who  saved  .  .  .  and  only  a 
lad  "...  But  Mary  could  not  hear  the  rest. 

"  I  must  see  you  again,"  he  continued,  aloud.  "  I 
shall  have  a  thousand  questions  to  put  to  you,  and 


332  THE   TORY   LOVER 

many  messages  for  your  old  Master  Sullivan  (God 
bless  him !)  when  you  return.  I  offer  you  my  friend 
ship  for  his  sake,"  and  Lord  Newburgh  stood  with 
bared  head  beside  the  horse  when  Miss  Hamilton  had 
mounted.  "  We  have  pleasant  Dilston  Hall  to  our 
home  no  more  these  many  years  ;  we  Radcliffes  are 
all  done,  but  at  Slindon  you  shall  be  very  welcome. 
I  shall  wait  upon  Madam  Wallingford  to-morrow, 
and  bring  her  what  good  comfort  I  can." 

The  alderman  was  warmed  by  Mr.  Fairfax's  hospi 
talities,  and  rode  beside  his  young  guest  as  proudly 
as  if  he  were  the  lord  mayor  on  high  holiday.  The 
streets  of  Bath  were  crowded  with  idle  gentlefolk; 
it  was  a  lovely  day,  and  many  people  of  fashion  were 
taking  the  air  as  well  as  the  famous  waters.  This  was 
a  fine  sight  for  a  New  England  girl,  and  Mary  herself 
was  beheld  with  an  admiration  that  was  by  no  means 
silent.  Their  horses'  feet  clacked  sharply  on  the  cob 
blestones,  as  if  eager  to  shorten  the  homeward  road, 
and  the  young  rider  sat  as  light  as  her  heart  was,  now 
the  errand  was  done.  It  was  a  pretty  thing,  her  un 
consciousness  of  all  admiration  ;  she  might  have  been 
flitting  along  a  shady  road  under  the  pines  at  home, 
startling  the  brown  rabbits,  and  keeping  a  steady 
hand  on  the  black  Duke's  rein  to  be  ready  for  sudden 
freaks.  She  did  not  see  that  all  along  by  the  pump 
room  they  were  watching  her  as  she  passed.  She 
was  taking  good  news  to  Bristol ;  Lord  Newburgh 
had  given  his  word  of  honor  that  Roger  Wallingford 
should  be  pardoned  and  set  free.  Was  not  his 
mother  a  great  lady,  and  heartily  loyal  to  the  Crown  ? 
Was  there  not  talk  of  his  having  been  suspected  of 
the  same  principles  on  board  the  American  privateer  ? 


MY  LORD   NEWBURGH'S  KINDNESS          333 

It  must  be  confessed  that  Lord  Newburgh's  face  had 
taken  on  a  look  of  amused  assurance  when  these  facts 
were  somewhat  unwillingly  disclosed  ;  they  were  the 
last  points  in  the  lieutenant's  history  which  Mary  her 
self  would  have  willingly  consented  to  use,  even  as  a 
means  of  deliverance  from  captivity,  but,  unknown 
to  her,  they  had  won  an  easy  promise  of  freedom. 

"  She  's  a  rebel  indeed,  but  God  bless  me,  I  don't 
blame  her  ! "  laughed  the  noble  lord,  as  he  reflected 
upon  their  conversation.  It  was  not  in  his  loyal 
heart  to  forget  his  heritage.  Whatever  might  fall 
out  in  the  matter  of  those  distressed  seamen  who  now 
suffered  in  the  Mill  Prison,  no  man  could  fail  of  plea 
sure  in  doing  service  for  such  sweet  eyes  as  Miss 
Mary  Hamilton's.  There  were  some  private  reasons 
why  he  could  go  boldly  to  ask  this  great  favor,  and 
Lord  Mount  Edgecumbe  was  as  good  as  master  of  the 
town  of  Plymouth,  both  by  land  and  sea,  and  respon 
sible  for  her  concerns.  "  I  '11  make  him  ride  with 
me  to  Bristol  to-morrow  to  see  these  ladies,"  said 
Lord  Newburgh  from  a  generous  heart.  "  'T  will 
be  a  sweet  reward,  he  may  take  my  word  for  it !  " 


XXXVII 

THE   BOTTOM    OF   THESE   MISERIES 

"  Let  us  pray  that  our  unconscious  benefactions  outweigh  our 
unconscious  cruelties  !  " 

THE  order  for  Lieutenant  Wallingford's  release  was 
soon  in  hand,  but  the  long  journey  across  country 
from  Bristol  to  Plymouth  seemed  almost  as  long  as  all 
the  time  spent  in  crossing  the  sea.  From  the  morning 
hour  when  the  two  elder  ladies  had  watched  Miss 
Hamilton  and  her  kind  old  cavalier  ride  away  down 
the  narrow  Bristol  street,  with  a  stout  man  servant 
well  mounted  behind  them,  until  the  day  they  were  in 
sight  of  Plymouth  Hoe,  each  minute  seemed  slower 
than  the  last.  It  was  a  pretty  journey  from  inn  to 
inn,  and  the  alderman  lent  himself  gayly  to  such  un 
wonted  holidays,  while  Mary's  heart  grew  lighter  on 
the  way,  and  a  bright,  impatient  happiness  began  to 
bloom  afresh  in  her  cheeks  and  to  shine  in  her  eyes. 

They  reached  Plymouth  town  at  nightfall,  and  Mary 
was  for  taking  fresh  horses  and  riding  on  to  the  Mill 
Prison.  For  once  her  face  was  dark  with  anger  when 
the  landlord  argued  against  such  haste.  He  was  for 
their  taking  supper,  and  assured  the  travelers  that 
not  even  the  mayor  of  Plymouth  himself  could  knock 
at  the  jail  gate  by  night  and  think  to  have  it  opened. 

Miss  Hamilton  turned  from  such  officious  speech 
with  proud  indifference,  and  looked  expectantly  at  her 
companion. 


THE  BOTTOM   OF  THESE  MISERIES          335 

"  It  is  not  every  night  they  will  have  a  pardon  to 
consider,"  she  said  in  a  low  voice  to  Mr.  Davis.  "  We 
carry  a  letter  from  my  Lord  Mount  Edgecumbe  to 
the  governor  of  the  prison.  We  must  first  get  speech 
with  the  guard,  and  then  I  have  no  fear." 

The  innkeeper  looked  provoked  and  wagged  his 
head;  he  had  already  given  orders  for  a  bountiful 
supper,  and  was  not  going  to  let  a  rich  Bristol  mer 
chant  and  two  persons  beside  ride  away  without  paying 
for  it. 

"  We  shall  not  be  long  away,"  said  Mary,  plead 
ing.  If  she  had  known  of  the  supper,  she  would  have 
added  that  they  might  bring  back  another  and  a  hun 
grier  guest  than  they  to  sit  at  table.  The  alderman 
was  irresolute  ;  he  was  ready  to  succor  a  distressed 
prisoner,  being  a  good  Christian ;  but  he  was  hungry 
now,  and  they  had  been  riding  all  day  at  a  quicker 
pace  than  he  might  have  followed  if  alone.  His 
man  servant,  just  come  into  the  inn  parlor  to  wait 
for  orders,  stole  a  meaning  glance  at  him ;  and  they 
were  two  against  one. 

"  No,  no,  my  dear  ;  't  is  a  good  bit  further,  and 
most  likely  we  should  have  our  ride  in  vain.  I  know 
the  rules  of  such  places,  from  our  Bristol  laws  at 
home.  The  governor  will  most  likely  be  here  in  the 
town.  Rest  you  now,  and  let  us  make  a  good  supper, 
and  start  again  betimes  in  the  morning."  Then,  see 
ing  how  disappointed  and  even  determined  her  face 
grew,  and  that  she  looked  very  tired,  "  I  am  an  old 
man,  you  must  remember,"  he  added  kindly.  "  I 
fear  that  I  am  spent  to-night,  and  can  do  no  more 
without  resting." 

She  was  silent  then,  and  crossed  the  room  to  stand 
by  the  window.  There  was  a  voice  in  her  heart  that 


336  THE   TORY  LOVER 

begged  her  to  persist,  to  go  on  alone,  if  need  be,  and 
not  let  herself  be  hindered  in  her  quest.  It  was  still 
light  out  of  doors  ;  the  long  twilight  of  the  English 
summer  was  making  this  last  step  of  her  great  adven 
ture  a  possibility.  She  sighed  ;  the  voice  within  still 
warned  and  pleaded  with  her.  "  Who  are  you  ?  "  the 
girl  said  wonderingly.  "  Who  are  you  that  comes  and 
helps  me  ?  You  are  not  my  own  thought,  but  some 
one  wiser  than  I,  who  would  be  my  friend  !  "  It  was 
as  if  some  unseen  ministering  spirit  were  face  to 
face  with  her,  bringing  this  insistent  thought  that  she 
hardly  dared  refuse  to  take  for  guidance. 

She  gazed  out  of  the  window.  Sunset  clouds  were 
brightening  the  whole  sky ;  an  afterglow  was  on  the 
moorland  hills  eastward  above  the  town.  She  could 
hear  the  roar  of  the  ocean  not  far  away  ;  there  were 
cheerful  voices  coming  up  the  street,  and  the  citizens 
were  all  abroad  with  their  comfortable  pipes  and 
chatter. 

"  Get  me  a  fresh  horse  and  a  man  to  follow,"  said 
Miss  Hamilton,  turning  again  to  face  the  room.  The 
landlord  himself  was  laying  the  white  cloth  for  sup 
per.  Matthew,  their  old  groom,  was  stiffly  kneeling 
and  pulling  off  his  master's  riding  boots,  and  they  all 
three  looked  at  her  in  dismay. 

"  Our  own  horses  are  done,  miss,"  said  Matthew, 
with  decision. 

"  I  have  none  I  can  let  you  to-night  from  my  stable," 
the  landlord  seconded.  "  There  was  a  review  to-day 
of  our  raw  recruits  for  America,  and  I  had  to  empty 
every  stall.  The  three  best  horses  are  returned  with 
saddle  galls  from  their  clumsy  ignorance,"  he  pro 
tested  boldly. 

Mary  glanced  at  Mr.  Davis,  and  was  still  uncon- 


THE  BOTTOM  OF  THESE  MISERIES          337 

vinced ;  but  all  her  determination  was  lost  when  she 
saw  that  the  old  man  was  really  fatigued.  Well,  it 
was  only  one  night  more,  and  she  must  not  insist. 
Perhaps  they  were  right,  and  her  ride  would  be  in 
vain.  At  least  she  could  send  a  messenger  ;  and  to 
this  proposal  the  landlord  readily  acceded,  since,  use 
less  or  not,  it  would  be  a  shilling  in  his  pocket,  and  a 
slow  boy  could  carry  the  letter  which  the  young  lady 
made  such  haste  to  write. 

She  stopped  more  than  once,  with  trembling  fingers 
and  trembling  heart.  "  Dearest  Roger,"  and  the 
written  words  made  her  blush  crimson  and  hold  her 
face  closer  to  the  paper.  "  Dearest  Roger,  I  would 
that  I  might  come  to  you  to-night ;  but  they  say  it  is 
impossible.  Your  mother  is  in  Bristol,  and  awaits  you 
there.  Mr.  John  Davis  has  brought  me  hither  to  the 
Crown  Inn.  In  the  morning  we  shall  open  the  prison 
door  for  you.  Oh,  my  dear  Roger,  to  think  that  I 
shall  see  you  at  last !  " 

"  When  can  we  have  the  answer  back  ?  "  she  asked  ; 
and  the  landlord  told  her,  smiling,  that  it  would  be 
very  late,  if  indeed  there  were  any  answer  at  all,  and 
reminded  her,  with  insolent  patience,  that  he  had  al 
ready  told  her  they  would  not  open  their  prison  gates, 
for  Lords  or  Commons,  to  any  one  who  came  by  night. 

"  You  may  send  the  answer  by  one  of  your  maids 
to  the  lady's  room,"  commanded  the  Bristol  magnate, 
in  a  tone  that  chased  the  servile  smile  from  the  inn 
keeper's  face. 

When  Mary  waked,  the  morning  sun  was  pouring 
in  at  her  window,  and  there  was  no  word  of  any  an 
swer.  Old  Matthew  had  spoken  with  the  young  mes 
senger,  and  brought  word  that  he  had  given  the  letter 


338  THE  TORY  LOVER 

to  one  of  the  watch  by  the  gate,  who  had  taken  the 
money,  and  promised  to  do  his  best  to  put  the  message 
into  Mr.  Wallingford's  hands  that  night  when  they 
changed  guard. 

"  We  might  have  been  here  last  night ;  why,  't  is 
but  a  step !  "  said  John  Davis,  as  they  drew  near  the 
dismal  prison  next  morning ;  but  his  young  compan 
ion  made  no  answer.  He  could  not  guess  what  happy 
fear  mingled  with  her  glad  anticipation  now,  nor  how 
her  certainties  and  apprehensions  were  battling  with 
each  other. 

Matthew's  own  horse  and  another  that  he  led  for 
Mr.  Wallingford  were  weighted  with  provisions,  so 
that  he  trudged  afoot  alongside.  It  was  easy  to  hear 
in  Plymouth  town  how  the  American  prisoners  lacked 
such  things,  and  yet  Mary  could  hardly  wait  now  to 
make  the  generous  purchase  which  she  had  planned. 
She  could  not  know  all  that  Matthew  had  learned, 
and  told  his  master  in  whispers  in  the  stable  yard. 

As  they  rode  nearer  to  the  prison  a  flaw  of  wind 
brought  toward  them  all  the  horrible  odors  of  the 
crowded  place,  like  a  warning  of  the  distress  and 
misery  within.  Though  it  was  so  early,  there  were 
many  persons  standing  outside  the  gates  :  some  of 
them  were  jeering  at  the  sad  spectacle,  and  some  talk 
ing  in  a  friendly  way  with  the  men  who  stood  within. 
Happily,  it  was  not  only  a  few  compassionate  Ameri 
cans  who  had  posted  themselves  here  to  give  what 
they  could  of  food  and  succor,  but  among  the  Ply 
mouth  folk  themselves  many  a  heart  was  wrung  with 
pity,  and  one  poor  old  body  had  toiled  out  of  the  town 
with  a  basket  of  food  to  smuggle  through  the  bars ; 
cakes  and  biscuit  of  a  humble  sort  enough,  but  well 


THE   BOTTOM   OF  THESE  MISERIES          339 

flavored  with  love.  Mary  saw  her  take  thread  and 
needles  out  of  her  pocket,  and  sit  down  on  the  ground 
to  mend  some  poor  rags  of  clothing.  "  My  own  lad 
went  for  a  sailor,"  she  said,  when  they  thanked  her 
and  called  her  "  mother." 

There  was  long  delay ;  the  guards  pushed  back  the 
crowd  again  and  again  ;  one  must  stand  close  to  see 
the  sights  within.  All  at  once  there  was  a  cry  and 
scuffling  among  the  idlers,  as  some  soldiers  came  rid 
ing  up,  one  of  them  bringing  an  old  horse  with  a 
man  thrown  across  the  saddle  and  tied  down.  As  they 
loosed  him  he  slid  heavily  to  the  ground  as  if  he  were 
dead,  and  the  spectators  closed  about  him. 

Mary  Hamilton  could  only  look  on  in  horror  and 
apprehension.  Her  companion  was  in  the  midst  of 
the  pushing  crowd. 

"  'T  was  a  prisoner  who  escaped  last  night  and  has 
been  retaken,"  he  said  hastily,  as  he  returned  to  her 
side.  "  You  may  stay  here  with  Matthew,  my  dear, 
while  I  take  our  letters  and  go  in.  I  see  that  it  is  no 
place  for  you ;  they  are  like  wild  beasts." 

"  I  must  go,  too,"  said  Mary  ;  "  you  will  not  forbid 
me  now.  Good  heavens !  "  she  cried  aloud.  "  Now 
that  they  stand  away  from  the  gate  I  can  see  within. 
Oh,  the  poor  prisoners !  Oh,  I  cannot  bear  their  sick 
faces  !  They  are  starving,  sir  !  These  must  be  the 
men  who  had  the  fever  you  told  me  of.  I  wish  we 
had  brought  more  wine  and  food  to  these  poor  fel 
lows  !  Let  us  go  in  at  once,"  she  cried  again,  and 
was  in  a  passion  of  pity  and  terror  at  the  sight. 

"  Let  us  go  in  !  Let  us  go  in  !  "  she  begged.  "  Oh, 
you  forget  that  they  are  my  own  countrymen  !  I  can 
not  wait ! " 

The  guard  now  returned  with  a  message,  and  the 


340  THE  TORY  LOVER 

alderman  gave  his  bridle  to  the  groom.  Mary  was 
afoot  sooner  than  he,  and  had  run  to  the  gate,  pushing 
her  way  among  the  idle  sightseers  to  the  heavy  grating. 
They  were  calling  from  both  sides  of  the  gate  to  old 
Matthew,  who  was  standing  with  the  horses,  to  come 
up  and  give  them  what  he  had  brought.  Mary  Hamil 
ton  felt  as  if  she  were  among  wolves  :  they  did  not 
listen  :  they  did  not  wait  to  find  what  she  had  to  say. 
"  For  love  of  God,  give  me  a  shilling  for  a  little 
'baccy,  my  lady,"  said  one  voice  in  her  ear.  "  I  '11 
fetch  them  the  'baccy  from  the  town,  poor  boys ;  they 
lack  it  most  of  anything,  and  he  '11  drink  the  money  !  " 
protested  an  old  beggar  woman  at  her  side.  "  Go  in  ? 
They  '11  let  no  ladies  in  !  "  and  she  gave  a  queer  laugh. 
"  And  if  you  're  once  in,  all  you  '11  pray  for  is  to  be 
out  again  and  forget  the  sight." 

The  governor  was  in  his  room,  which  had  a  small 
grated  window  toward  the  prison  yard ;  but  there  was 
a  curtain  before  it,  and  he  looked  up  anxiously  to  see 
if  this  were  close  drawn  as  his  early  guests  entered. 
This  task  of  jailer  was  a  terrible  duty  for  any  man, 
and  he  swore  under  his  breath  at  Lord  Mount  Edge- 
cumbe  for  interfering  with  what  at  best  was  an  im 
possible  piece  of  business.  If  he  had  seen  to  it  that 
they  had  decent  supplies  for  the  prison,  and  hanged 
a  score  of  their  purveyors  and  contractors,  now,  or 
had  blown  the  whole  rotten  place  into  the  air  with 
his  fleet  guns,  't  were  a  better  kindness  ! 

The  clerk  stood  waiting  for  orders. 

"  Show  them  in,  then,  these  people,"  he  grumbled, 
and  made  a  feint  of  being  busy  with  some  papers  as 
Miss  Hamilton  and  her  escort  appeared.  The  gov 
ernor  saw  at  once  that  the  honorable  Mr.  Davis  was 
a  man  of  consequence. 


THE  BOTTOM   OF  THESE  MISERIES         341 

"  My  Lord  Mount  Edgecumbe  writes  me  that  you 
would  make  inquiries  for  a  prisoner  here,"  said  the 
old  soldier,  less  roughly  because  the  second  guest 
proved  to  be  a  lady  and  most  fair  to  see.  She  looked 
very  pale,  and  was  watching  him  with  angry  eyes.  As 
she  had  crossed  the  prison  yard,  she  had  seen  fewer 
miseries  because  her  tears  had  blinded  her.  There 
had  been  one  imploring  voice  calling  her  by  her  own 
name.  "  Stop,  Miss  Hamilton,  stop,  for  God's  sake  !  " 
some  one  had  cried  ;  but  the  guard  had  kept  the  poor 
prisoners  off,  and  an  attendant  hurried  her  along  by 
force  when  she  would  gladly  have  lingered.  The  hor 
ror  of  it  all  was  too  much  for  her ;  it  was  the  first  time 
she  had  ever  been  in  a  jail. 

"  I  am  fearful  of  your  sad  disappointment,  madam," 
said  the  governor  of  the  prison.  "  You  wished  to  see 
Lieutenant  Roger  Wallingford.  I  grieve  to  say  "  — 
He  spoke  kindly,  but  looked  toward  Mary  and  stopped, 
and  then,  sighing  heavily,  turned  his  eyes  toward  Mr. 
Davis  with  a  kind  of  relief. 

"  He  is  not  dead,  I  hope,  sir  ?  "  asked  the  old  man, 
for  Mary  could  not  speak.  "  We  have  the  order  for 
his  release." 

"  No,  he  is  not  dead  to  any  certain  knowledge,"  ex 
plained  the  governor,  more  slowly  than  before,  "  but 
he  was  one  of  a  party  that  made  their  escape  from 
this  prison  last  night ;  't  was  through  one  of  their  silly 
tunnels  that  they  dig.  They  have  some  of  them  been 
shot  down,  and  one,  I  hear,  has  just  been  taken  and 
brought  in  alive  ;  but  Wallingford' s  name  is  not  among 
any  of  these."  He  turned  to  some  records,  and  then 
went  to  the  grated  window  and  looked  out,  but  pulled 
the  curtain  across  it  impatiently  as  he  came  away. 
"You  brought  his  pardon?"  the  governor  then  asked 


342  THE  TORY  LOVER 

brusquely.  "  I  should  think  he  would  be  the  last  man 
for  a  pardon.  Why,  he  was  with  Paul  Jones,  sir  ;  but 
a  very  decent  fellow,  a  gentleman,  they  tell  me.  I 
did  not  see  him ;  I  am  not  long  here.  This  young 
lady  had  best  go  back  to  the  inn,"  and  he  stole  a  look 
at  Mary,  who  sat  in  despairing  silence.  A  strange 
flush  had  replaced  her  first  pallor.  She  had  thought 
but  a  moment  before  that  she  should  soon  look  again 
into  Roger  Wallingford's  face  and  tell  him  that  he 
was  free.  On  the  end  of  the  governor's  writing  table 
lay  the  note  that  she  had  written  with  such  a  happy 
heart  only  the  night  before. 


XXXVIII 

FULL   OF   STKAYING   STREETS 

"  Nous  ne  souffrons  que  dans  la  mesure  ou  nous  co-opdrons  a  nos 
souff  ranees." 

"  His  age  saw  visions,  though  his  youth  dream'd  dreams." 

THE  town  of  Bristol  was  crowded  with  Loyalist 
refugees :  some  who  had  fled  the  colonies  for  honest 
love  of  their  King,  and  some  who  believed  that  when 
the  King's  troops  had  put  down  the  rebellion  they 
should  be  well  rewarded  for  holding  to  his  cause. 
They  were  most  of  them  cut  off  from  what  estates  they 
may  have  had,  and  were  begging  for  pensions  from  a 
government  that  seemed  cruelly  indifferent.  Their 
sad  faces  fairly  shadowed  the  Bristol  streets,  while 
many  of  them  idled  the  day  through,  discussing  their 
prospects  with  one  another,  and  killing  time  that 
might  have  been  lived  to  some  profit.  The  disap 
pointment  of  their  hope  was  unexpected,  and  an  Eng 
land  that  showed  them  neither  sympathy  nor  honor 
when  they  landed  on  her  shores,  glowing  with  self- 
sacrifice,  was  but  a  sad  astonishment.  England,  their 
own  mother  country,  seemed  fallen  into  a  querulous 
dotage,  with  her  King's  ministers  so  pompous  in  their 
stupid  ignorance  and  self-consequence,  and  her  best 
statesmen  fighting  hard  to  be  heard.  It  was  an  age 
of  gamester  heroes  and  of  reckless  living ;  a  poor  page 
of  English  history  was  unfolded  before  their  wistful 


344  THE  TORY  LOVER 

eyes.  These  honest  Loyalists  were  made  to  know  the 
mortified  feelings  of  country  gentlefolk  come  unher 
alded  to  a  city  house  that  was  busy  with  its  splendors 
on  a  feast  day,  and  impatient  of  what  was  inopportune. 
Worse  than  this,  though  Judge  Curwen  and  other 
loyal  Americans  of  his  company  were  still  hopeful  of 
consideration,  and  of  being  warmly  received  by  Eng 
land  as  her  own  true  children,  they  were  oftener  held 
guilty  of  the  vexing  behavior  of  their  brothers,  those 
rebels  against  English  authority  whom  they  had  left 
behind.  Something  to  Mary's  wonder,  Madam  Wal- 
lingford  would  have  few  of  them  to  friend.  She  was 
too  great  a  person  at  home  to  consent  even  now  to  any 
social  familiarity  on  the  score  of  political  sympathies. 
She  was  known  to  have  brought  much  money,  and 
it  was  made  easy  for  her  to  share  this  with  one  and 
another  distressed  acquaintance  or  friend's  friend ; 
but  while  this  was  done  with  generosity,  she  showed 
herself  more  and  more  impatient  of  their  arguments, 
even  of  those  plaints  which  were  always  ready,  and 
the  story  of  such  grievances  as  had  led  them  into  exile. 
"  I  am  too  ill  and  sad  to  listen  to  these  things," 
she  said  often,  even  to  her  friends  the  Pepperrells, 
who  came  from  London  to  visit  her.  "  I  only  know 
my  country's  troubles  through  my  own  sorrow."  She 
begged  them  at  last  to  find  poor  Roger's  grave,  so 
she  might  go  there  to  pray  for  him ;  't  was  all  that 
she  could  do.  "  Oh  no,"  she  would  say  mournfully 
to  those  who  looked  for  her  assent  to  their  own  views 
of  the  great  situation,  "  do  not  expect  me  to  under 
stand  you.  I  am  only  a  mother,  and  all  my  life  is 
done!" 

The  Bristol  streets  were  busy  as  Miss  Hamilton 


FULL  OF  STRAYING  STREETS  345 

came  walking  through  the  town,  and  the  bells  were 
ringing  for  a  holiday.  She  was  deep  in  anxious 
thought,  and  kept  steadily  on  her  way  toward  the 
abbey  church,  without  even  a  glance  at  a  tradesman's 
window  or  a  look  at  the  people  she  met.  Life  was 
filled  with  new  anxieties.  Since  the  day  when  they 
had  left  Plymouth  they  could  find  no  trace  of  Roger 
Wallingford,  beyond  the  certainty  that  he  had  made 
his  escape  with  some  fellow  prisoners  through  a  tunnel 
which  they  had  been  for  many  days  digging  under  the 
prison  wall.  There  had  been  a  light  near  the  opening 
in  the  field  outside,  and  a  guard  set,  but  six  men  had 
gone  out  of  the  narrow  hole  and  crawled  away.  It 
was  a  windy  night,  and  the  lantern  light  and  shadows 
wavered  on  the  ground  and  hid  them.  Two  were  shot 
and  killed,  but  two  were  captured  and  brought  back 
at  once,  while  another  was  shot  and  got  away,  stum 
bling  and  falling  often,  and  bleeding  like  a  slaughtered 
creature,  as  the  watch  could  see  next  morning  by  day 
light.  This  poor  fellow  had  escaped  to  the  moors ; 
there  was  a  pool  of  blood  in  a  place  where  he  must 
have  hidden  for  some  hours  among  the  furze  bushes. 
There  was  so  large  a  bounty  paid  for  any  escaped 
traitors  and  felons  like  these,  who  might  be  brought 
back  alive  to  the  Mill  Prison,  that  the  poor  moorland 
folk  back  of  Plymouth  were  ever  on  the  quest.  Roger 
Wallingford  might  have  been  that  bleeding  man. 
They  would  not  dare  to  keep  together  ;  his  companion 
might  have  left  him  dying  or  dead  somewhere  in  the 
lonely  waste  country  that  stretched  miles  away  above 
the  prison.  His  fate  was  sure  if  he  should  be  cap 
tured  ;  he  was  not  a  man  to  yield  his  life  too  easily. 
There  were  some  carefully  worded  notices  posted,  — 
broadsides  which  might  easily  reach  the  eyes  of  such 


346  THE  TORY  LOVER 

fugitives  if  they  ventured  into  any  of  the  Devon  towns 
near  by  ;  but  they  might  well  have  starved  to  death 
by  this  time  in  the  deserts  of  Dartmoor.  One  sailor 
beside  the  lieutenant  had  succeeded  in  making  his 
escape. 

Mary  Hamilton  had  left  her  lady  pale  and  in  tears 
that  morning,  and  all  her  affectionate  solicitude  had 
been  in  vain. 

There  was  some  relief  in  rinding  herself  afoot  in  the 
fresh  air.  For  the  first  time  she  wondered  if  they 
must  yield  all  their  hopes  and  think  of  going  home. 
It  must  be  so  if  they  should  come  to  know  that  Roger 
was  really  dead,  and  her  heart  stopped  as  if  with  a 
sudden  shock.  Alas,  next  moment  she  remembered 
that  for  poor  Madam  Wallingford  there  was  no  safe 
return;  her  son  was  not  yet  disproven  of  Tory  crimes. 
If  there  were  any  chance  of  sailing,  the  poor  lady  was 
far  too  ill  and  feeble  in  these  last  days.  The  summer, 
the  little  that  was  left  of  it,  looked  long  and  dreary; 
the  days  were  already  growing  short.  There  had  not 
come  a  word  from  home  since  they  sailed. 

There  was  no  longer  much  use  in  riding  abroad  on 
futile  quests,  and  in  these  last  days  most  persons  had 
ceased  to  ask  if  there  were  any  news  of  the  lieutenant. 
Week  after  week  had  gone  by,  and  his  mother's  proud 
courage  was  gone,  while  her  bodily  strength  was  fast 
failing.  Lord  Newburgh  and  Mr.  Fairfax,  even  Lord 
Mount  Edgecumbe  himself,  had  shown  very  great 
kindness  in  so  difficult  a  matter,  and  Mary  never  let 
them  go  away  unthanked  for  any  favors  which  it 
could  only  be  a  happiness  for  any  man  to  bestow. 
The  gift  and  spell  of  beauty  were  always  hers,  and 
a  heart  that  was  always  ready  to  show  both  gratitude 


FULL  OF  STRAYING  STREETS  347 

and  affection.  She  might  not  speak  these  things, 
but  she  was  instant  in  giving  the  sweetest  recognition 
to  the  smallest  service  that  she  might  discover. 

The  abbey  church  of  St.  Augustine  was  cool  and  dim 
as  Mary  Hamilton  went  in,  with  a  drooping  head  and 
a  heavy  heart.  Her  courage  had  never  before  seemed 
so  utterly  to  fail.  She  had  passed  two  forlorn  Roy 
alists  at  the  gatehouse  who  were  talking  of  their 
pensions,  and  heard  one  of  them  say,  "  If  I  were  safe 
home  again  I  'd  never  leave  it,  principles  or  no  prin 
ciples  !  "  and  the  words  rang  dull  and  heavy  in  her 
ears.  She  sat  down  on  an  old  stone  bench  in  the  side 
aisle;  the  light  came  sifting  down  to  the  worn  stone 
pavement,  but  she  was  in  shadow,  behind  a  great  pillar 
that  stood  like  a  monstrous  tree  to  hold  the  lofty  roof. 
There  was  no  one  in  sight.  The  lonely  girl  looked 
up  at  a  familiar  old  Jacobean  monument  on  the  wall, 
with  the  primly  ruffed  father  and  mother  kneeling 
side  by  side  with  clasped  hands,  and  their  children 
kneeling  in  a  row  behind  them  down  to  the  very  least, 
in  a  pious  little  succession.  They  were  all  together 
there  in  comfortable  safety,  and  many  ancient  tab 
lets  covered  the  walls  about  them  with  the  names 
and  virtues  of  soldiers  and  sailors,  priests  and  noble 
men,  and  gallant  gentlemen  of  Old  England  with  their 
children  and  their  good  wives. 

"  They  have  all  won  through,"  whispered  Mary  to 
herself.  "  They  have  all  fought  the  long  battle  and 
have  carried  care  like  me,  and  they  have  all  won 
through.  I  shall  not  be  a  coward,  either,"  and  her 
young  heart  rose  ;  but  still  the  tears  kept  coming,  and 
she  sat  bowed  in  the  shadow  and  could  not  lift  her 
head,  which  until  lately  had  faced  the  sun  like  a 
flower.  She  sat  there,  at  last,  not  thinking  of  her 


348  THE  TORY  LOVER 

present  troubles,  but  of  home :  of  old  Peggy  and  the 
young  maids  who  often  sang  at  their  pleasant  work ; 
the  great  river  at  full  tide,  with  its  wooded  shores  and 
all  its  points  and  bays ;  the  fishing  weirs  in  the  dis 
tance  ;  the  slow,  swaying  flight  of  the  eagles  and  the 
straight  course  of  the  herons  overhead.  She  thought 
of  the  large,  quiet  house  facing  southward,  and  its  rows 
of  elms,  and  the  slender  poplars  going  down  the  gar 
den  terraces ;  she  even  heard  the  drone  of  the  river 
falls ;  she  saw  the  house  standing  empty,  all  the  wide 
doors  shut  to  their  old  hospitality.  A  sense  of  awful 
distance  fell  upon  her  heart.  The  responsibility  and 
hopelessness  of  her  errand  were  too  heavy  on  her 
young  heart.  She  covered  her  face  and  bent  still 
lower,  but  she  could  not  stop  her  tears. 

There  came  the  sound  of  footsteps  up  the  nave:  it 
might  be  the  old  verger  in  his  rusty  gown,  or  some 
sightseer  stopping  here  and  there  to  read  an  inscrip 
tion.  Poor  Mary's  tears  would  have  their  way :  to  one 
of  her  deep  nature  weeping  was  sad  enough  in  itself ; 
to  cry  for  sorrow's  sake  was  no  common  sorrow.  She 
was  safe  in  her  dim  corner,  and  thought  little  of 
being  seen ;  she  was  only  a  poor  girl  in  sore  trouble, 
with  her  head  sunk  in  her  hands,  who  could  not  in  any 
way  concern  a  stranger.  The  wandering  footsteps 
stopped  near  by,  instead  of  going  on  and  entering  the 
choir.  She  noticed,  then,  in  a  dull  way,  the  light  echo 
of  their  sound  among  the  arches  overhead. 

"  My  God ! "  said  a  man's  voice,  as  if  in  great 
dismay. 

The  speaker  stepped  quickly  to  Mary's  side,  and 
laid  his  hand  gently  on  her  shoulder.  She  looked  up 
into  the  face  of  Captain  Paul  Jones  of  the  Ranger. 


XXXIX 

MERCY   AND   MANLY   COURAGE 

"  Look  on  his  honour ! 

That  bears  no  stamp  of  time,  no  wrinkles  on  it ; 
No  sad  demolishment  nor  death  can  reach  it." 

"  O  my  dear  better  Angel  and  my  star, 
My  earthly  sight  needs  yours,  your  heavenly,  mine !  " 

THE  captain's  eyes  were  full  of  tears  ;  it  was  no 
sign  that  he  lacked  manliness.  To  find  Miss  Hamil 
ton  in  England,  to  find  her  alone  and  in  piteous  de 
spair,  was  the  opportunity  of  his  own  heart.  He  could 
not  but  be  startled  into  wondering  silence  ;  the  event 
was  too  astonishing  even  for  one  so  equal  to  emergen 
cies  ;  but  he  stood  ready,  with  beating  heart  and  sure 
sense  of  a  man's  abundant  strength,  to  shelter  her  and 
to  fight  against  the  thing  that  troubled  her,  whatever  it 
might  be.  Presently  he  seated  himself  by  Mary's  side, 
and  took  her  hand  in  his  and  held  it  fast,  still  without 
speaking.  She  was  the  better  for  such  friendliness, 
and  yet  wept  the  more  for  his  very  sympathy. 

The  captain  waited  until  her  passion  of  tears  had 
spent  itself.  It  was  a  pity  she  could  not  watch  his 
compassionate  face  ;  all  that  was  best  and  kindest  in 
the  man  was  there  to  see,  with  a  grave  look  born  of 
conflict  and  many  grievous  disappointments.  To  see 
Paul  Jones  now,  one  could  not  but  believe  him  capable 
of  the  sternest  self-command;  he  had  at  least  the 
unassuming  and  quiet  pride  of  a  man  who  knows  no 


350  THE  TORY  LOVER 

master  save  himself.  His  eyes  were  full  of  womanly 
tenderness  as  he  looked  down  at  the  pathetic  bowed 
head  beside  him.  Next  moment  they  had  a  keen 
brightness  as  he  caught  sight  of  a  tablet  on  the  abbey 
wall  to  some  Bristol  hero  long  dead,  —  the  gallant  ser 
vant,  through  many  perils  by  sea  and  land,  of  Anne 
his  Queen :  it  was  a  record  that  the  captain's  heart 
could  perfectly  understand. 

"  Calm  yourself  now,  my  dearest  girl,"  he  said  at 
last,  with  gentle  authority.  "  I  must  not  stay  long 
beside  you ;  I  am  always  in  danger  here.  I  was  not 
unknown  in  Bristol  as  a  younger  man." 

Mary  lifted  her  head ;  for  a  moment  the  sight  of 
his  face  helped  to  put  her  own  miseries  quite  out  of 
mind.  Her  ready  sympathy  was  quickly  enough 
roused  when  she  saw  how  Paul  Jones  had  changed. 
He  had  grown  much  older ;  years  might  have  passed 
instead  of  months  since  that  last  evening  he  had  spent 
in  America,  when  she  had  seen  him  go  away  with  his 
men  by  moonlight  down  the  river.  Now  more  than 
ever  he  might  easily  win  the  admiration  of  a  woman's 
heart !  She  had  half  forgotten  the  charm  of  his  voice, 
the  simple  directness  of  his  eyes  and  their  strange 
light,  with  something  in  his  behavior  that  men  called 
arrogance  and  willful  rivalry,  and  women  recognized 
as  a  natural  royalty  and  irresistible,  compelling  power. 
To  men  he  was  too  imperious,  to  women  all  gentleness 
and  courtesy. 

"  You  are  in  disguise !  "  she  exclaimed,  amazed  at 
his  courage.  "  How  do  you  dare,  even  you,  to  be 
here  in  Bristol  in  broad  day  ?  "  and  she  found  herself 
smiling,  in  spite  of  her  unchecked  tears.  The  captain 
held  a  rough  woolen  cap  in  his  hand  ;  he  was  dressed 
in  that  poor  garb  of  the  hungry  Spanish  sailor  of 


MERCY  AND  MANLY  COURAGE      351 

Quiberon,  which  had  so  often  done  him  good  ser 
vice. 

"  Tell  me  what  has  brought  you  here,"  he  answered. 
"That  is  by  far  the  greatest  wonder.  I  am  no  fit 
figure  to  sit  beside  you,  but  't  is  the  hand  of  God  that 
has  brought  us  here  together.  Heaven  forbid  that  you 
should  ever  shed  such  bitter  tears  again  ! "  he  said 
devoutly,  and  sat  gazing  at  her  like  a  man  in  a  day 
dream. 

"  Sometimes  God  wills  that  we  shall  be  sorry- 
hearted  ;  but  when  He  sends  the  comfort  of  a  friend, 
God  himself  can  do  no  more,"  answered  the  girl,  and 
there  fell  a  silence  between  them.  There  was  a  spar 
row  flying  to  and  fro  among  the  pillars,  and  chirping 
gayly  under  the  high  roof,  —  a  tiny  far-fallen  note,  and 
full  of  busy  cheer.  The  late  summer  sunshine  lay 
along  the  floor  of  that  ancient  house  of  God  where 
Mary  and  the  captain  sat  alone  together,  and  there 
seemed  to  be  no  other  soul  in  the  place. 

Her  face  was  shining  brighter  and  brighter  ;  at  last, 
at  last  she  could  know  the  truth,  and  hear  what  had 
happened  at  Whitehaven,  and  ask  for  help  where  help 
could  be  surely  given. 

"  But  why  are  you  here  ?  You  must  indeed  be  bold, 
my  lord  captain !  "  she  ventured  again,  in  something 
very  like  the  old  gay  manner  that  he  knew ;  yet  she 
still  looked  very  white,  except  for  her  tear-stained 
eyes.  "  There  were  new  tales  of  your  seafaring  told 
in  the  town  only  yesterday.  I  believe  they  are  expect 
ing  you  in  every  corner  of  England  at  once,  and  every 
flock  of  their  shipping  is  dreading  a  sight  of  the  Sea 
Wolf." 

"  I  do  my  own  errands,  —  that  is  all,"  replied  the 
captain  soberly.  "  My  poor  Kanger  is  lying  now  in 


352  THE   TORY  LOVER 

the  port  of  Brest.  I  am  much  hampered  by  enemies, 
but  I  shall  presently  break  their  nets.  ...  I  was  for 
a  look  at  their  shipping  here,  and  how  well  they  can 
defend  it.  There  is  a  well-manned,  able  fish-boat 
out  of  Koscoff,  on  the  Breton  coast,  which  serves  me 
well  on  these  expeditions.  I  have  a  plan,  later,  for 
doing  great  mischief  to  their  Baltic  fleet.  I  had  to 
bring  the  worst  of  my  ship's  company  with  me  ;  't  is 
my  only  discomfort,"  said  Paul  Jones,  with  bitterness. 
"  I  have  suffered  far  too  much,"  and  he  sighed  heavily 
and  changed  his  tone.  "  I  believe  now  that  God's 
providence  has  brought  me  to  your  side ;  such  happi 
ness  as  this  makes  up  for  everything.  You  remember 
that  I  have  been  a  sailor  all  my  life,"  he  continued, 
as  if  he  could  not  trust  himself  to  speak  with  true 
feeling.  "  I  have  been  acquainted  since  childhood 
with  these  English  ports." 

"  You  did  not  know  that  I  had  come  to  Bristol  ?  " 
said  Mary.  "  Oh  yes,  we  have  been  here  these  many 
weeks  now,"  and  she  also  sighed. 

"  How  should  I  know  ?  "  asked  Paul  Jones  impa 
tiently.  "  I  am  overwhelmed  by  such  an  amazing 
discovery.  I  could  burst  into  tears ;  I  am  near  to 
being  unmanned,  though  you  do  not  suspect  it.  Think, 
dear,  think  what  it  is  to  me  !  I  have  no  discretion, 
either,  when  I  babble  my  most  secret  affairs  aloud, 
and  hardly  know  what  I  am  saying.  I  must  leave 
you  in  a  few  short  moments.  What  has  brought  you 
here  ?  Tell  me  the  truth,  and  how  I  may  safely 
manage  to  see  you  once  again.  If  you  were  only  in 
France,  with  my  dear  ladies  there,  they  would  love 
and  cherish  you  with  all  their  kind  hearts  !  'T  is  the 
Duchess  of  Chartres  who  has  been  my  good  angel 
since  I  came  to  France,  and  another  most  exquisite 


MERCY  AND  MANLY  COURAGE      353 

being  whom  I  first  met  at  her  house,  —  a  royal  prin 
cess,  too.  Oh,  I  have  much  to  tell  you !  Their 
generous  friendship  and  perfect  sympathy  alone  have 
kept  me  from  sinking  down.  I  have  suffered  unbe 
lievable  torture  from  the  jealousy  and  ignorance  of 
men  who  should  have  known  their  business  better, 
and  given  me  every  aid." 

"  I  am  thankful  you  have  such  friends  as  these 
ladies,"  said  Mary,  with  great  sweetness.  "  I  am 
sure  that  you  have  been  a  good  friend  to  them.  Some 
knowledge  of  your  difficulties  had  reached  us  before 
we  left  home  ;  but,  as  you  know,  intercourse  is  now 
much  interrupted,  and  we  were  often  uncertain  of 
what  had  passed  at  such  a  distance.  We  hear  nothing 
from  home,  either,"  she  added  mournfully.  "  We  are 
in  great  distress  of  mind  ;  you  could  see  that  I  was 
not  very  cheerful.  ...  I  fear  in  my  heart  that  poor 
Madam  Wallingford  will  die." 

"  Madam  Wallingford ! "  repeated  the  captain. 
"  You  cannot  mean  that  she  is  here !  "  he  exclaimed, 
with  blank  astonishment.  His  tone  was  full  of  re 
proach,  and  even  resentment.  "  Poor  lady  !  I  own 
that  I  have  had  her  in  my  thoughts,  and  could  not 
but  pity  her  natural  distress,"  he  added,  with  some 
restraint,  and  then  burst  forth  into  excited  speech : 
"  There  is  no  need  that  they  should  make  a  tool  of 
you,  —  you  who  are  a  Patriot  and  Hamilton's  own 
sister !  This  is  arrant  foolishness  !  " 

He  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  stood  before  Miss  Hamil 
ton,  with  his  eyes  fixed  angrily  upon  her  face.  "  If  I 
could  tell  you  everything!  Oh,  I  am  outdone  with 
this !  "  he  cried,  with  a  gesture  of  contempt. 

"  Captain  Paul  Jones,"  she  said,  rising  quickly  to 
confront  him,  "  I  beg  you  to  tell  me  everything.  I 


354  THE  TORY  LOVER 

cannot  believe  that  Eoger  Wallingford  is  a  traitor, 
and  I  love  his  mother  almost  as  if  she  were  my  own. 
I  came  to  England  with  her  of  my  own  wish  and  free 
will,  and  because  it  was  my  right  to  come.  Will  you 
tell  me  plainly  what  has  happened,  and  why  you  do 
not  take  his  part  ?  " 

The  captain's  quick  change  from  such  deep  sym 
pathy  as  he  had  shown  for  her  tears  to  a  complete 
scorn  of  their  cause  could  only  give  a  sad  shock  to 
Mary  Hamilton's  heart.  He  was  no  helper,  after  all. 
There  came  a  dizzy  bewilderment  like  a  veil  over  her 
mind ;  it  seemed  as  if  she  felt  the  final  blow  of  Fate. 
She  had  not  known  how  far  she  had  spent  her  strength, 
or  how  her  very  homesickness  had  weakened  her  that 
day. 

"  I  fear  it  is  true  enough  that  he  betrayed  us  at 
Whitehaven,"  said  Paul  Jones  slowly,  and  not  un 
mindful  of  her  piteous  look.  "  I  could  not  bring  my- 
self  to  doubt  him  at  first ;  indeed,  I  was  all  for  him. 
I  believe  that  I  trusted  him  above  every  man  on 
board.  I  was  his  champion  until  I  found  he  had  been 
meddling  with  my  papers,  —  my  most  secret  dis 
patches,  too ;  yes,  I  have  proof  of  this !  And  since 
then  some  of  the  stolen  pages  have  found  their  way 
into  our  enemies'  hands.  He  has  not  only  betrayed 
me,  but  his  country  too ;  and  worst  of  all  in  men's 
eyes,  he  has  sinned  against  the  code  of  honor.  Yet 
there  is  one  thing  I  will  and  must  remember :  't  is 
never  the  meanest  men  who  serve  their  chosen  cause 
as  spies.  The  pity  is  that  where  success  may  be  illus 
trious,  the  business  asks  completest  sacrifice,  and 
failure  is  the  blackest  disgrace.  'Tis  Wallingford's 
reward.  I  loved  him  once,  and  now  I  could  stand  at 
the  gallows  and  see  him  hanged !  Perhaps  he  would 


MERCY  AND  MANLY  COURAGE      355 

say  that  he  acted  from  high  motives,  —  't  is  ever  a 
spy's  excuse ;  but  I  trusted  him,  and  he  would  have 
ruined  me." 

"  I  do  not  believe  that  he  is  guilty,"  declared  Mary 
Hamilton,  with  perfect  calmness,  though  she  had 
drawn  back  in  horror  as  she  heard  the  last  words  and 
saw  such  blazing  anger  in  Paul  Jones's  eyes.  "  You 
must  look  elsewhere  for  your  enemy,"  she  insisted,  — 
"  for  some  other  man  whose  character  would  not  for 
bid  such  acts  as  these.  If  Roger  Wallingford  has 
broken  his  oath  of  allegiance,  my  faith  in  character 
is  done  ;  I  have  known  him  all  my  life,  and  I  can 
answer  for  him.  Believe  me,  there  is  some  mistake." 
Her  eyes  did  not  fall ;  as  the  captain  held  them  straight 
and  answerable  with  his  own  she  met  the  challenge  of 
his  look,  and  there  came  a  beautiful  glow  of  pity  and 
gentleness  upon  her  face. 

The  captain  gave  a  long  sigh. 

"  I  am  sure  that  you  are  mistaken,"  she  said  again, 
quietly,  since  he  did  not  speak.  "  We  are  now  in 
great  trouble,  and  even  despair,  about  Mr.  Walling 
ford,  and  have  been  able  to  get  no  word  from  him. 
We  have  his  pardon  in  hand;  it  would  make  you 
wonder  if  I  told  you  how  it  came  to  us.  Your  lieu 
tenant  was  left  most  cruelly  wounded  on  the  shore  at 
Whitehaven,  and  was  like  to  die  on  the  long  journey 
to  Plymouth  jail  where  they  sent  him.  How  he  has 
lived  through  all  his  sufferings  I  do  not  know.  I 
have  seen  the  Mill  Prison,  myself ;  they  would  not 
even  let  us  speak  with  those  who  knew  him  among 
our  poor  captives.  The  night  before  we  reached  the 
prison  he  had  escaped ;  there  were  some  men  shot 
down  who  were  of  his  party.  We  can  get  no  trace  of 
him  at  all.  Whether  he  is  dead  on  the  great  moors, 


356  THE  TORY  LOVER 

or  still  alive  and  wandering  in  distress,  no  one  can 
tell.  This  does  not  look  as  if  he  were  a  spy  for  Eng 
land  ;  it  were  easy  to  give  himself  up,  and  to  prove 
such  a  simple  thing,  if  only  to  be  spared  such  misery. 
I  am  afraid  that  his  mother  will  soon  fade  out  of  life, 
now  that,  after  all  these  weeks,  she  believes  him  dead. 
She  thought  he  would  return  with  us,  when  she  saw 
us  ride  away  to  Plymouth,  and  the  disappointment 
was  more  than  she  could  bear." 

The  bitter  memory  of  that  morning  at  the  Mill 
Prison  was  like  a  sword  in  Mary's  heart,  and  she 
stopped  ;  she  had  spoken  quickly,  and  was  now  trem 
bling  from  head  to  foot.  "  I  thought,  when  I  saw  your 
face,  that  you  would  know  how  to  help  us  find  him," 
she  said  sorrowfully,  under  her  breath. 

"  If  I  have  been  wrong,"  exclaimed  the  captain, 
"  if  I  have  been  wrong,  I  should  give  my  life  to  make 
amends!  But  all  the  proofs  were  there.  I  even 
found  a  bit  of  one  of  my  own  papers  among  his  effects, 
—  't  was  in  a  book  he  had  been  reading.  But  I  hid 
the  matter  from  every  one  on  board  ;  I  could  not  bear 
they  should  know  it.  Dickson's  word  was  their  main 
stay  at  first ;  but  that  counted  worse  than  nothing  to 
me,  till  there  were  other  matters  which  fully  upheld 
his  account." 

"  Dickson  has  always  been  a  man  mistrusted  and 
reproached,"  protested  Miss  Hamilton,  with  indig 
nation.  "  There  is  a  man  for  you  whose  character 
would  not  forbid  such  treachery  !  You  must  know, 
too,  that  he  has  a  deep  hatred  for  the  Wallingfords, 
and  would  spare  no  pains  to  revenge  himself." 

The  captain  stood  doubtful  and  dismayed.  "  I 
have  gone  over  this  sad  matter  by  day  and  by  night," 
he  said  ;  "  I  do  not  see  where  I  could  be  mistaken.  I 


MERCY  AND  MANLY  COURAGE      357 

went  to  the  bottom  of  my  evidence  without  regard  to 
Dickson,  and  I  found  proof  enough.  I  hate  that 
man,  and  distrust  him,  yet  I  can  find  little  fault  with 
his  service  on  the  ship  ;  and  when  I  have  been  surest 
of  catching  him  in  a  lie,  he  always  proves  to  have  told 
the  exact  truth,  and  wears  a  martyr's  air,  and  is  full 
of  his  cursed  cant  and  talk  of  piety.  Alas,  I  know 
not  what  can  be  done  at  this  late  day." 

"  Did  you  never  think  that  Dickson  could  put 
many  a  proof  like  your  bit  of  paper  where  your  eyes 
alone  could  fall  upon  it  ?  "  asked  Mary.  "  I  remem 
ber  well  that  he  has  tried  more  than  once  to  cast 
blame  upon  others  when  he  himself  was  the  sinner. 
He  has  plenty  of  ability ;  't  is  his  bad  use  of  it  that 
one  may  always  fear." 

The  captain  moved  restlessly,  as  if  conscious  of  her 
accusation.  "  Many  believed  Wallingford  to  be  a 
Tory  on  the  ship,"  he  answered.  "They  were  jealous 
and  suspicious  of  his  presence ;  but  Dickson,  who  has 
warped  Simpson's  honest  mind  against  me,  may  also 
have  set  his  energies  to  this.  If  we  could  only  find 
Wallingford !  If  we  could  only  hear  his  own  story  of 
that  night !  In  all  this  time  he  should  have  sent  some 
word  to  me,  if  he  were  innocent.  If  I  were  free,  I  'd 
soon  know  what  they  learned  from  him  in  the  prison ; 
he  must  have  spoken  openly  with  some  of  the  Ports 
mouth  men  who  are  there.  What  can  we  do  ?  "  the 
speaker  ended,  in  a  different  tone  altogether,  making 
a  direct  appeal  to  Mary.  "  If  I  have  fallen  a  dupe  to 
such  a  man  as  Dickson  in  this  matter,  I  shall  never 
recover  from  the  shame.  You  would  never  forgive 
me.  Alas,  how  can  I  ask  the  question  that  my  heart 
prompts !  You  are  most  unhappy,"  said  Paul  Jones, 
with  exquisite  compassion.  "  Is  it  because  of  Wai- 


358  THE  TORY  LOVER 

lingf ord  alone  ?  Oh,  Mary,  is  there  no  hope  for  me  ? 
You  have  had  my  letters  ?  You  cannot  but  remem 
ber  how  we  parted !  " 

She  looked  at  him  imploringly. 

"  Tell  me,"  said  the  captain.  "  I  must  ask  a  ques 
tion  that  is  very  hard  for  me.  I  believe  that  you  love 
this  unfortunate  officer,  and  desire  his  safety  beyond 
everything  else.  Is  it  not  true  ?  " 

Mary  waited  only  a  moment  before  she  spoke. 

"  Yes,  it  is  true,"  she  said  then.  "  I  know  now 
that  we  have  always  belonged  to  each  other." 

"  Alas  for  my  own  happiness  !  "  said  the  captain, 
looking  at  her.  "  I  thought  when  we  parted  that  last 
night "  —  He  groaned,  his  words  faltering.  "  Oh, 
that  I  had  only  spoken !  Glory  has  been  a  jealous 
mistress  to  me,  and  I  dared  not  speak ;  I  feared 
't  would  cost  me  all  her  favor,  if  my  thoughts  were 
all  for  you.  It  seems  a  lifetime  ago.  I  could  throw 
my  hope  of  glory  down  at  your  feet  now,  if  it  were 
any  use.  I  can  do  nothing  without  love.  Oh,  Mary, 
must  you  tell  me  that  it  is  too  late  ?  " 

The  captain's  voice  made  poignant  outcry  to  the 
listener's  heart.  The  air  seemed  to  quiver  in  strange 
waves,  and  the  walls  of  the  abbey  seemed  to  sway 
unsteadily.  The  strong,  determined  soul  before  her 
was  pleading  for  an  impossible  happiness.  Even  bet 
ter  than  he  could  know,  she  knew  that  he  lacked  a 
woman's  constant  love  and  upholding,  and  that,  with 
all  his  noble  powers,  his  life  tended  toward  ruin  and 
disappointment.  She  stood  there,  white  and  wistful ; 
her  compassionate  heart  was  shaken  with  pity  for  his 
loneliness. 

There  was  a  change  on  the  man's  dark  face ;  he 
took  one  step  toward  her,  and  then  was  conscious 


MERCY  AND  MANLY  COURAGE      359 

of  a  strange  separation  between  them.  Mary  did  not 
move,  she  did  not  speak ;  she  stood  there  as  a  ghost 
might  stand  by  night  to  pity  the  troubles  of  men. 
She  knew,  with  a  woman's  foresight,  the  difference 
it  would  make  if  she  could  only  stand  with  love  and 
patience  by  his  side. 

"  There  must  be  some  one  to  love  you  as  it  is  in 
your  heart  to  love,"  she  told  him  then.  "  God  bless 
you  and  give  you  such  a  happiness  !  You  are  sure  to 
find  each  other  in  this  sad  world.  I  know  you  will ! 
I  know  you  will !  " 

One  of  the  great  bells  began  to  ring  in  the  tower, 
and  its  vibrations  jarred  her  strangely ;  she  could 
hardly  hinder  herself  now  from  a  new  outburst  of 
tears,  and  could  not  think  clearly  any  more,  and  was 
trembling  with  weakness. 

"  I  must  go  home  if  I  can,"  she  whispered,  but  her 
voice  was  very  low.  "  I  cannot  get  home  alone  — 
No,  no,  I  must  not  let  you  be  so  kind !  " 

He  placed  her  gently  on  the  stone  bench,  and  she 
leaned  back  heavily  with  his  arm  about  her,  thankful 
for  some  protecting  affection  in  her  brief  bewilder 
ment.  She  could  not  but  hear  his  pitying,  endearing 
words  as  her  faintness  passed  ;  the  poor  girl  was  so 
breathless  and  weak  that  she  could  only  throw  herself 
upon  his  mercy.  There  was  even  an  unexpected  com 
fort  in  his  presence,  —  she  had  been  so  much  alone 
with  strangers;  she  forgot  everything  save  that  he 
was  a  friend  of  her  happier  days.  And  as  for  the 
captain,  he  had  held  her  in  his  arms,  she  had  turned 
to  him  with  touching  readiness  in  her  distress;  no 
thing  could  ever  rob  his  heart  of  the  remembrance. 

He  watched  her  with  solicitude  as  her  color  came 
back,  and  lingered  until  he  saw  that  she  was  herself 


360  THE  TORY  LOVER 

again.  They  must  part  quickly,  for  he  could  not  ven 
ture  to  be  seen  with  her  in  the  open  streets. 

"  You  have  convinced  me  that  I  may  have  been 
wrong  about  Wallingford,"  he  said  impulsively.  "  I 
shall  now  do  my  best  to  aid  you  and  to  search  the 
matter  out.  I  shall  see  you  again.  Your  happiness 
will  always  be  very  dear  to  me.  I  can  but  thank 
Heaven  for  our  being  here  together,  though  I  have 
only  added  something  to  your  pain.  Perhaps  these 
troubles  may  not  be  far  from  their  solution,  and  I 
shall  see  you  soon  in  happier  hours." 

He  kissed  her  hand  and  let  it  go ;  his  old  hope 
went  with  it ;  there  must  be  a  quick  ending  now.  A 
man  must  always  resent  pity  for  himself,  but  his 
heart  was  full  of  most  tender  pity  for  this  overbur 
dened  girl.  There  had  been  few  moments  of  any  sort 
of  weakness  in  all  the  course  of  her  long  bravery,  — 
he  was  sure  enough  of  that,  —  and  only  loved  her  the 
more.  She  had  been  the  first  to  show  him  some  higher 
things :  it  was  not  alone  her  charm,  but  her  charac 
ter,  her  great  power  of  affection,  her  perfect  friend 
ship,  that  would  make  him  a  nobler  lover  to  his  life's 
end. 

She  watched  him  as  he  went  away  down  the  nave 
toward  the  open  door ;  the  poverty  of  such  disguise 
and  the  poor  sailor's  threadbare  dress  could  not  hide 
a  familiar  figure,  but  he  was  alert  no  more,  and  even 
drooped  a  little  as  he  stood  for  one  moment  in  the 
doorway.  He  did  not  once  look  back;  there  were 
people  in  the  church  now,  and  his  eyes  were  bent 
upon  the  ground.  Then  he  lifted  his  head  with  all 
the  spirit  that  belonged  to  him,  stepped  out  boldly 
from  the  shadow  into  the  bright  daylight  beyond,  and 
was  gone. 


MERCY  AND  MANLY  COURAGE      361 

The  old  verger  crossed  over  to  speak  with  Mary ; 
he  had  learned  to  know  her  by  sight,  for  she  came 
often  to  the  abbey  church,  and  guessed  that  she  might 
be  one  of  the  exiles  from  America. 

"  'T  was  some  poor  sailor  begging,  I  misdoubt. 
There  's  a  sight  o'  beggars  stranded  in  the  town.  I 
hope  he  would  not  make  bold  to  vex  you,  my  lady?  " 
asked  the  dim-eyed  old  man,  fumbling  his  snuffbox 
with  trembling  hands.  "  I  fell  asleep  in  the  chapter 
room." 

"  'T  was  some  one  I  had  known  at  home,"  Miss 
Hamilton  answered.  "  He  is  a  good  man."  And  she 
smiled  a  little  as  she  spoke.  It  would  be  so  easy  to 
cause  a  consternation  in  the  town.  Her  head  was 
steady  now,  but  she  still  sat  where  the  captain  left 
her. 

"  'T  is  a  beautiful  monyment,  —  that  one,"  said  the 
verger,  pointing  up  to  the  kneeling  figures  in  their 
prim  ruffs.  "  'T  is  as  beautiful  a  monyment  as  any 
here.  I  've  made  bold  to  notice  how  you  often  sits 
here  to  view  it.  Some  o'  your  Ameriky  folks  was 
obsarvin'  as  their  forbears  was  all  buried  in  this 
abbey  in  ancient  times  ;  't  would  be  sure  to  make  the 
owd  place  a  bit  homely." 

The  bells  were  still  chiming,  and  there  were  wor 
shipers  coming  in.  Mary  Hamilton  slipped  away, 
lest  she  should  meet  some  acquaintance  ;  she  felt  her 
self  shaken  as  if  by  a  tempest.  Paul  Jones  had  gone 
into  fresh  danger  when  he  left  her  side ;  his  life  was 
spent  among  risks  and  chances.  She  might  have  been 
gentler  to  him,  and  sent  him  away  better  comforted. 

She  walked  slowly,  and  stood  still  once  in  the  street, 
startled  by  the  remembrance  of  her  frank  confession 
of  love  ;  the  warm  color  rushed  to  her  pale  face.  To 


362  THE  TORY  LOVER 

have  told  the  captain,  when  she  had  never  told  Roger 
himself,  or  his  mother,  or  any  but  her  own  heart ! 
Yet  all  her  sorrows  were  lightened  by  these  uncon- 
sidered  words  :  the  whole  world  might  hear  them 
now  ;  they  were  no  secret  any  more. 

There  were  busy  groups  of  people  about  the  taverns 
and  tobacco  shops,  as  if  some  new  excitement  were 
in  the  air;  it  might  be  that  there  was  news  from 
America.  As  Mary  passed,  she  heard  one  man  shout 
to  another  that  John  Paul  Jones,  the  pirate,  had  been 
seen  the  day  before  in  Bristol  itself.  An  old  sailor, 
just  landed  from  a  long  voyage  at  sea,  had  known 
him  as  he  passed.  There  was  word,  too,  that  the 
Ranger  had  lately  been  sighted  again  off  Plymouth, 
and  had  taken  two  prizes  in  the  very  teeth  of  the 
King's  fleet. 


XL 

THE  WATCHER'S  LIGHT 

"  There's  no  deep  valley  but  near  some  great  hill." 

LATE  that  night  Mary  Hamilton  sat  by  the  window 
in  her  sleeping  closet,  a  quaint  little  rooih  that  led 
from  the  stately  chamber  of  Madam  Wallingford. 
Past  midnight,  it  was  still  warm  out  of  doors,  and  the 
air  strangely  lifeless.  It  had  been  late  before  the 
maid  went  away  and  their  dear  charge  had  fallen 
asleep  ;  so  weak  and  querulous  and  full  of  despair  had 
she  been  all  the  long  day. 

The  night  taper  was  flickering  in  its  cup  of  oil,  but 
the  street  outside  was  brighter  than  the  great  room. 
The  waning  moon  was  just  rising,  and  the  watcher 
leaned  back  wearily  against  the  shutter,  and  saw  the 
opposite  roofs  slowly  growing  less  dim.  There  were 
tall  trees  near  by  in  the  garden,  and  a  breeze,  that 
Mary  could  not  feel  where  she  sat,  was  rustling  among 
the  poplar  leaves  and  mulberries.  She  heard  foot 
steps  coming  up  the  street,  and  the  sound  startled  her 
as  if  she  had  been  sitting  at  her  window  at  home, 
where  footsteps  at  that  time  of  night  might  mean  a 
messenger  to  the  house. 

The  great  town  of  Bristol  lay  fast  asleep ;  it  was 
only  the  watchman's  tread  that  had  startled  the  lis 
tener,  and  for  a  moment  changed  her  weary  thoughts. 
The  old  man  went  by  with  his  clumsy  lantern,  but 


364  THE   TORY  LOVER 

gave  no  cry  nor  told  the  hour  until  he  was  well  into 
the  distance. 

There  was  much  to  think  about  at  the  end  of  this 
day,  which  had  brought  an  unexpected  addition  to 
her  heart's  regret.  The  remembrance  of  Paul  Jones, 
his  insistence  upon  Wallingford's  treachery,  a  sad 
mystery  which  now  might  never  be  solved,  even  the 
abruptness  of  the  captain's  own  declaration  of  love, 
and  a  sense  of  unreality  that  came  from  her  own  mis 
erable  weakness,  —  all  these  things  were  new  burdens 
for  the  mind.  She  could  not  but  recognize  the  hero 
in  this  man  of  great  distinction,  as  he  had  stood  before 
her,  and  yet  his  melancholy  exit,  with  the  very  pov 
erty  of  his  dress,  had  somehow  added  to  the  misery  of 
the  moment.  It  seemed  to  her  now  as  if  they  had 
met  each  other,  that  morning,  with  no  thoughts  of 
victory,  but  in  the  very  moment  of  defeat.  Their 
hopes  had  been  so  high  when  last  they  talked  together. 
Again  there  came  to  her  mind  the  anxiety  of  that 
bright  night  when  she  had  stood  pleading  with  Roger 
Wallingf ord  on  the  river  shore,  and  had  thrown  down 
her  challenge  at  his  feet.  How  easy  and  even  how 
happy  it  all  seemed  beside  these  dreadful  days !  How 
little  she  had  known  then !  How  little  she  had  loved 
then  !  Life  had  been  hardly  more  than  a  play  beside 
this ;  it  was  more  dramatic  than  real.  She  had  felt 
a  remote  insincerity,  in  those  old  days,  in  even  the 
passionate  words  of  the  two  men,  and  a  strange  barrier, 
like  a  thin  wall  of  glass,  was  always  between  her  heart 
and  theirs.  Now,  indeed,  she  was  face  to  face  with 
life,  she  was  in  the  middle  of  the  great  battle ;  now 
she  loved  Roger  Wallingford,  and  her  whole  heart 
was  forever  his,  whether  he  was  somewhere  in  the 
world  alive,  or  whether  he  lay  starved  and  dead  among 


THE  WATCHER'S  LIGHT  365 

the  furze  and  heather  on  the  Devon  moors.  She  saw 
his  white  face  there,  as  if  she  came  upon  it  in  the 
shadows  of  her  thoughts,  and  gave  a  quick  cry,  such 
was  the  intensity  of  her  grief  and  passion ;  and  the 
frail  figure  stirred  under  its  coverlet  in  the  great  room 
beyond,  with  a  pitiful  low  moan  like  the  faint  echo  of 
her  own  despair. 

The  sad  hour  went  by,  and  still  this  tired  girl  sat 
by  the  window,  like  a  watcher  who  did  not  dare  to 
forget  herself  in  sleep.  Her  past  life  had  never  been 
so  clearly  spread  before  her,  and  all  the  pleasant  old 
days  were  but  a  background  for  one  straight  figure : 
the  manly,  fast-growing  boy  whom  she  played  with 
and  rebuffed  on  equal  terms ;  the  eager-faced  and 
boyish  man  whom  she  had  begun  to  fear  a  little,  and 
then  to  tease,  lest  she  should  admire  too  much.  She 
remembered  all  his  beautiful  reticence  and  growing 
seriousness,  the  piety  with  which  he  served  his  wid 
owed  mother ;  the  pleading  voice,  that  last  night  of 
all,  when  she  had  been  so  slow  to  answer  to  his  love. 
It  was  she  herself  now  who  could  plead,  and  who 
must  have  patience  !  How  hard  she  had  been  some 
times,  how  deaf  and  blind,  how  resistant  and  dull  of 
heart !  'T  was  a  girl's  strange  instinct  to  fly,  to  hide, 
to  so  defeat  at  first  the  dear  pursuer  of  her  heart's 
love! 

Again  there  was  a  footstep  in  the  street.  It  was 
not  the  old  watchman  coming,  for  presently  she  heard 
a  man's  voice  singing  a  country  tune  that  she  had 
known  at  home.  He  came  within  sight  and  crossed 
the  street,  and  stood  over  the  way  waiting  in  shadow ; 
now  he  went  on  softly  with  the  song.  It  was  an  old 
Portsmouth  ballad  that  all  the  river  knew ;  the  very 
sound  of  it  was  like  a  message :  — 


366  THE   TORY  LOVER 

"  The  mermaids  they  beneath  the  wave, 
The  mermaids  they  o'er  my  sailor's  grave, 
The  mermaids  they  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea, 
Are  weeping  their  salt  tears  for  me. 

"  The  morning-  star  was  shining  still, 
'T  was  daybreak  over  the  eastern  hill  "  — 

He  began  the  song  again,  but  still  more  softly,  and 
then  stopped. 

Mary  kept  silence  ;  her  heart  began  to  beat  very 
fast.  She  put  her  hand  on  the  broad  window-sill  where 
the  moonlight  lay,  and  the  singer  saw  it  and  came  out 
into  the  street.  She  saw  the  Spanish  sailor  again. 
What  had  brought  the  captain  to  find  her  at  this  time 
of  night  ? 

She  leaned  out  quickly.  "  I  am  here.  Can  I  help 
you  ?  Is  there  any  news  ?  "  she  whispered,  as  he  stood 
close  under  the  window,  looking  up.  "  You  are  put 
ting  yourself  in  danger,"  she  warned  him  anxiously. 
"  I  heard  the  people  saying  that  you  have  been  seen 
in  Bristol,  this  morning  as  I  came  home ! " 

"  God  be  thanked  that  I  have  found  you  awake  !  " 
ho  ans wered  eagerly,  and  the  moon  shone  full  upon 
his  face,  so  that  she  could  see  it  plain.  "  I  feared  that 
I  should  have  to  wait  till  daylight  to  see  you.  I  knew 
no  one  to  trust  with  my  message,  and  I  must  run  for 
open  sea.  I  have  learned  something  of  our  mystery 
at  last.  Go  you  to  the  inn  at  Old  Passage  to-morrow 
night,  —  do  you  hear  me  ?  —  to  the  inn  at  Old  Pas 
sage,  and  wait  there  till  I  come.  Go  at  nightfall,  and 
let  yourself  be  unknown  in  the  house,  if  you  can.  I 
think  —  I  think  we  may  have  news  from  Walling, 
ford." 

She  gave  a  little  cry,  and  leaned  far  out  of  thb 
window,  speaking  quickly  in  her  excitement,  and  beg- 


THE   WATCHER'S  LIGHT  367 

ging  to  hear  more  ;  but  the  captain  had  vanished  to  the 
shadows  whence  he  came.  Her  heart  was  beating  so 
fast  and  hard  now  that  she  could  not  hear  his  light 
footsteps  as  he  hurried  away,  running  back  to  the 
water-side  down  the  echoing-  paved  street. 


XLI 

AN   OFFERED   OPPORTUNITY 

"  Neither  man  nor  soldier. 
What  ignorant  and  mad  malicious  traitors !  " 

"  License,  they  mean,  when  they  cry  Liberty." 

THE  E-oscoff  fishing  smack  lay  in  the  Severn,  above 
Avon  mouth,  and  it  was  broad  day  when  Captain  Paul 
Jones  came  aboard  again,  having  been  rowed  down 
the  river  by  some  young  Breton  sailors  whom  he  had 
found  asleep  in  the  bottom  of  their  boat.  There 
would  be  natural  suspicion  of  a  humble  French  craft 
like  theirs;  but  when  they  had  been  overhauled  in 
those  waters,  a  day  or  two  before,  the  owner  of  the 
little  vessel,  a  sedate  person  by  the  name  of  Dickson, 
professed  himself  to  be  an  Englishman  from  the  Island 
of  Guernsey,  with  proper  sailing  papers  and  due  rev 
erence  for  King  George  the  Third.  His  crew,  being 
foreigners,  could  answer  no  decent  Bristol  questions, 
and  they  were  allowed  to  top  their  boom  for  the  fish 
ing  grounds  unmolested,  having  only  put  into  harbor 
for  supplies. 

The  Roscoff  lads  looked  at  their  true  captain  with 
mingled  sleepiness  and  admiration  as  he  took  the 
steersman's  place.  He  presently  opened  a  large  knotted 
bundle  handkerchief,  and  gave  them  a  share  of  the  rich 
treat  of  tobacco  and  early  apples  within  ;  then,  seeing 
that  they  kept  their  right  course,  he  made  a  pillow  of 
his  arm  and  fell  sound  asleep. 


AN  OFFERED   OPPORTUNITY  369 

As  they  came  under  the  vessel's  side  the  barking  of 
a  little  dog  on  board  waked  him  again  with  a  start. 
He  looked  weary  enough  as  he  stood  to  give  his  orders 
and  watch  his  opportunity  to  leap  from  the  boat,  as 
they  bobbed  about  in  the  choppy  sea.  All  was  quiet 
on  deck  in  the  bright  sunlight ;  only  the  little  French 
dog  kept  an  anxious  lookout.  The  captain  gave  orders 
to  break  out  their  anchor  and  be  off  down  channel,  and 
then  turned  toward  the  cabin,  just  as  Dickson  made 
his  appearance,  yawning,  in  the  low  companion  way. 

Dickson  had  found  such  life  as  this  on  the  fisherman 
very  dull,  besides  having  a  solid  resentment  of  its 
enforced  privations.  None  of  the  crew  could  speak 
English  save  Cooper  and  Hanscom,  who  had  come  to 
hate  him,  and  would  not  speak  to  him  at  all  except  in 
the  exercise  of  duty.  He  knew  nothing  of  the  Breton 
talk,  and  was  a  man  very  fond  of  idle  and  argumenta 
tive  conversation.  The  captain  had  been  ashore  now 
for  thirty-six  long  hours,  and  his  offended  colleague 
stood  back,  with  a  look  of  surly  discontent  and  no 
words  of  welcome,  to  let  the  tyrant  pass.  The  captain 
took  a  letter  out  of  his  pocket  and  gave  it  to  him,  with 
a  quick  but  not  unfriendly  glance,  as  if  half  amused 
by  Dickson 's  own  expression  of  alarm  as  he  turned  the 
folded  paper  and  looked  at  its  unbroken  seal.  He 
mumbled  something  about  a  tailor's  bill,  and  then  in 
sisted  that  the  letter  could  not  be  meant  for  him.  He 
did  not  seem  to  know  what  it  would  be  safe  to  say. 

"Come  below;  I  wish  to  speak  with  you."  The 
captain  spoke  impatiently,  as  usual,  and  had  the  air  of 
a  kingbird  which  dealt  with  a  helpless  crow.  "  We 
are  in  no  danger  of  being  overheard.  I  must  speak 
with  you  before  you  read  your  letter.  I  have  chanced 


S70  THE  TORY  LOVER 

upon  some  important  information  ;  I  have  a  new  plan 
on  foot." 

"  Certainly,  sir,"  replied  Dickson,  looking  very  sour- 
tempered,  but  putting  a  most  complaisant  alacrity  into 
his  voice. 

"  The  news  was  given  me  by  a  man  who  succeeded 
in  making  his  escape  from  the  Mill  Prison  some  months 
since,  and  who  came  to  Bristol,  where  he  had  old  ac 
quaintances;  he  is  now  at  work  in  a  coppersmith's 
shop,"  explained  the  captain.  "  He  has  been  able  to 
help  some  of  his  shipmates  since  then,  and,  under 
the  assumed  character  of  an  American  Loyalist,  has 
enjoyed  the  confidence  of  both  parties.  'T  will  be  a 
dangerous  fellow  to  tamper  with  ;  I  have  heard  some 
thing  of  him  before.  I  doubt  if  he  is  very  honest,  but 
he  turns  many  a  good  sound  penny  for  himself.  Lee 
believes  that  all  his  spies  are  as  trusty  as  Ford  and 
Thornton,  but  I  can  tell  you  that  they  are  not."  The 
captain's  temper  appeared  to  be  rising,  and  Dickson 
winced  a  little.  "  I  know  of  some  things  that  go  on 
unbeknownst  to  him,  and  so  perhaps  do  you,  Mr.  Dick- 
son  ;  this  man  has  advised  me  of  some  matters  in  Bris 
tol  this  very  night,  about  which  I  own  myself  to  be 
curious.  He  says  that  there  are  two  men  out  of  the 
Mill  Prison  who  may  be  expected  in,  and  are  hoping 
to  get  safe  away  to  sea.  It  would  be  a  pretty  thing  to 
add  a  pair  of  good  American  sailors  to  our  number 
without  the  trouble  of  formal  exchange.  So  I  must 
again  delay  our  sailing  for  France,  and  I  shall  leave 
you  here  to-night,  while  I  go  to  inspect  the  fugitives. 
There  are  special  reasons,  too,  why  I  wish  to  get  news 
from  the  prison." 

The  captain  seemed  excited,  and  spoke  with  unusual 
frankness  and  civility.  Though  Dickson  had  begun  to 


AN  OFFERED   OPPORTUNITY  371 

listen  with  uneasiness,  he  now  expressed  approval  of 
such  a  plan,  but  ventured  at  the  same  time  to  give  an 
officious  warning  that  there  might  be  danger  of  a  plot 
among  the  Bristol  Loyalists.  They  would  make  them 
selves  very  happy  by  securing  such  an  enemy  as  John 
Paul  Jones.  But  this  proof  of  sagacity  and  unselfish 
ness  on  Dickson's  part  the  captain  did  not  deign  to 
notice. 

"  I  shall  pass  the  day  in  fishing,  and  toward  night 
take  another  anchorage  farther  up  the  channel,"  he 
continued.  "There  are  reasons  why  prudence  forbids 
my  going  into  the  Avon  again  by  boat,  or  being  seen 
by  day  about  the  Bristol  quays.  I  shall  run  farther 
up  the  Severn  and  land  there,  and  ride  across  by 
Westbury,  and  over  the  downs  into  Bristol,  and  so 
return  by  daybreak.  I  have  bespoken  a  horse  to  wait 
for  me,  and  you  will  see  that  a  boat  is  ready  to  take 
me  off  in  the  morning." 

Dickson  received  these  instructions  with  apparent  in 
terest  and  an  unconscious  sigh  of  relief.  He  understood 
that  the  captain's  mind  was  deeply  concerned  in  so 
innocent  a  matter  ;  there  was  probably  no  reason  for 
apprehension  on  his  own  part.  The  next  moment  his 
spirits  fell,  and  his  face  took  on  that  evil  color  which 
was  the  one  sign  of  emotion  and  animosity  that  he 
was  unable  to  conceal.  There  was  likely  to  be  direct 
news  now  from  the  Mill  Prison ;  and  the  grievous 
nightmare  that  haunted  Dickson's  thoughts  was  the 
possible  reappearance  of  Koger  Wallingford. 

Once  or  twice  he  swallowed  hard,  and  tried  to 
gather  courage  to  speak,  but  the  words  would  not  come. 
The  captain  passed  him  with  a  scowl,  and  threw  him 
self  into  the  wretched  bunk  of  the  cabin  to  get  some 
sleep. 


372  THE  TORY  LOVER 

"  Captain  Jones,"  and  Dickson  boldly  followed  him, 
"  I  have  something  important  which  I  must  say  "  — 

"  Will  not  you  read  your  letter  first  ?  "  inquired  the 
captain,  with  unaccustomed  politeness.  "  I  am  very 
much  fatigued,  as  you  might  see.  I  want  a  little  sleep, 
after  these  two  nights." 

"  We  are  alone  now,  sir,  and  there  is  something  that 
has  lain  very  heavy  on  my  mind."  The  man  was  fluent 
enough,  once  his  voice  had  found  utterance. 

The  captain,  with  neither  an  oath  nor  a  growl,  sat 
up  in  his  berth,  and  listened  with  some  successful 
mockery  of  respect,  looking  him  straight  in  the  face. 

"  That  night,  — you  remember,  sir,  at  Whitehaven  ? 
I  have  come  to  be  troubled  about  that  night.  You 
may  not  recall  the  fact  that  so  unimportant  a  person 
as  I  stood  in  any  real  danger  on  such  an  occasion  of 
glory  to  you,  but  I  was  set  upon  by  the  town  guard, 
and  only  escaped  with  my  life.  I  returned  to  the 
Ranger  in  a  suffering  condition.  You  were  a  little 
overset  by  your  disappointment,  and  by  Mr.  Walling- 
ford's  disappearance  and  your  suspicions  of  his  course. 
But  in  my  encounter,  —  you  know  that  it  was  not  yet 
day,  —  and  in  the  excitement  of  escaping  from  an 
armed  guard,  I  fear  that  I  fought  hand  to  hand  with 
Wallingford  himself,  taking  him  for  a  constable.  He 
was  the  last  of  them  to  attack  me,  when  I  was  unable 
to  discriminate,  —  or  he,  either,"  added  Dickson  slyly, 
but  with  a  look  of  great  concern.  "  The  thought  has 
struck  me  that  he  might  not  have  been  disloyal  to  our 
cause,  and  was  perhaps  escaping  to  the  boat,  as  I  was, 
when  we  fell  into  such  desperate  combat  in  that  dark 
lane.  It  would  put  me  into  an  awful  position,  you 
can  see,  sir.  ...  I  may  be  possessed  of  too  great  a 
share  of  human  frailty,  but  I  have  had  more  than  my 


AN  OFFERED   OPPORTUNITY  373 

share  of  ill  fortune.  I  have  suffered  from  unjust  sus 
picions,  too,  but  this  dreadful  accident  would  place 
me"- 

"  You  thought  to  save  your  life  from  an  unknown 
enemy  ?  "  the  captain  interrupted  him.  "  You  struck 
one  of  your  own  party,  by  mischance,  in  the  dark  ?  " 
he  suggested,  without  any  apparent  reproach  in  his 
voice. 

"  Exactly  so,  sir,"  said  Dickson,  taking  heart,  but 
looking  very  mournful. 

"  Yet  you  told  us  that  Mr.  Wallingford  alarmed  the 
guard?" 

"  I  could  suspect  nothing  else,  sir,  at  the  time ;  you 
heard  my  reasons  when  I  returned." 

"  Never  mind  your  return,"  urged  Paul  Jones,  still 
without  any  tone  of  accusation.  "  'T  was  long  after 
the  gray  of  the  morning,  it  was  almost  broad  day, 
when  I  left  the  shore  myself  at  Whitehaven,  and  a 
man  might  easily  know  one  of  his  shipmates.  'T  was 
a  dark  lane,  you  told  me,  however,"  and  his  eyes 
twinkled  with  the  very  least  new  brightness.  "  If  we 
should  ever  see  poor  Wallingford  again,  you  could 
settle  all  that  between  you.  I  can  well  understand 
your  present  concern.  Do  you  think  that  you  did  the 
lieutenant  any  serious  damage  before  you  escaped?  I 
recall  the  fact  that  you  were  badly  mauled  about  the 
countenance." 

"  I  fear  that  I  struck  him  worst  in  the  shoulder, 
sir,"  and  Dickson  shifted  his  position  uneasily,  and  put 
one  hand  to  the  deck  timber  above  to  hold  himself 
steady,  now  that  they  were  rolling  badly  with  the  an 
chor  off  ground.  "  I  know  that  I  had  my  knife  in  my 
hand.  He  is  a  very  strong  fellow,  and  a  terrible  man 
to  wrestle  with,  —  I  mean  the  man  whom  I  struck, 


374  THE   TORY  LOVER 

who  may  have  been  Wallingf ord.  I  thought  he  would 
kill  me  first." 

"  I  wish  you  had  bethought  yourself  to  speak 
sooner,"  said  the  captain  patiently.  "  'T  is  a  thing  for 
us  to  reflect  upon  deeply,  but  I  can  hear  no  more  now. 
I  must  sleep,  as  you  see,  before  I  am  fit  for  anything. 
Do  not  let  the  men  disturb  me  ;  they  may  get  down 
channel  to  their  fishing.  If  they  succeed  as  well  as 
yesterday,  we  shall  soon  make  the  cost  of  this  little 
adventure." 

He  spoke  drowsily,  and  drew  the  rough  blanket 
over  his  head  to  keep  the  light  away. 

Dickson  mounted  to  the  deck.  If  he  had  known 
how  easy  it  would  be  to  make  things  straight  with  the 
captain,  how  much  suffering  he  might  have  spared 
himself !  You  must  take  him  in  the  right  mood,  too. 
But  the  captain  had  an  eye  like  a  gimlet,  that  twisted 
into  a  man's  head. 

"  Wallingford  may  never  turn  up,  after  all.  I  wish 
I  had  killed  him  while  I  was  about  it,"  said  Dick- 
son  to  himself  uneasily.  "  It  may  be  all  a  lie  that  he 
was  sent  to  Plymouth ;  it  would  be  such  a  distance !  " 
There  was  something  the  matter  with  this  world.  To 
have  an  eye  like  Paul  Jones's  fixed  upon  you  while 
you  were  trying  to  make  a  straight  story  was  anything 
but  an  assistance  or  a  pleasure. 

The  captain  was  shaking  with  laughter  in  the  cabin 
as  Dickson  disappeared.  "  What  a  face  he  put  on, 
the  smooth-spoken  hypocrite  !  His  race  is  run ;  he 
told  me  more  than  he  needed,"  and  Paul  Jones's  face 
grew  stern,  as  he  lay  there  looking  at  the  planks  above 
his  head.  "  He  's  at  the  bottom  of  the  hill  now,  if  he 
only  knew  it.  When  a  man  's  character  is  gone,  his 
reputation  is  sure  enough  to  follow ;  "  and  with  this 


AN  OFFERED  OPPORTUNITY  375 

sage  reflection  the  captain  covered  his  head  again  care 
fully,  and  went  to  sleep. 

Unaware  of  this  final  verdict,  Dickson  was  com 
fortably  reading  his  letter  on  the  deck,  and  feeling 
certain  that  fortune  had  turned  his  way.  His  mind 
had  been  made  up  some  days  before  to  leave  the 
Ranger  as  soon  as  he  got  back  to  France,  even  if  he 
must  feign  illness  to  gain  his  discharge,  or  desert  the 
ship,  as  others  had  done.  He  had  already  a  good  sum 
of  money  that  had  been  paid  him  for  information  use 
ful  to  the  British  government,  and,  to  avoid  future 
trouble,  proposed  to  hide  himself  in  the  far  South  or 
in  one  of  the  West  Indian  Islands.  "  My  poor  wife 
would  gain  by  the  change  of  climate,"  said  the  scoun 
drel,  pitying  himself  now  for  the  loss  of  friendship 
and  respect  from  which  he  felt  himself  begin  to  suffer, 
and  for  those  very  conditions  which  he  had  so  care 
fully  evolved. 

He  started  as  he  read  the  brief  page  before  him ; 
the  news  of  the  letter  was  amazingly  welcome.  It  was 
written  by  some  one  who  knew  his  most  intimate 
affairs.  The  chance  had  come  to  give  up  the  last  and 
best  of  those  papers  which  he  had  stolen  from  the  cap 
tain's  desk.  For  this  treasure  he  had  asked  a  great 
price,  —  so  great  that  Thornton  would  not  pay  it  at 
Brest,  and  Ford's  messenger  had  laughed  him  in  the 
face.  Now  there  was  the  promise  of  the  money,  the 
whole  noble  sum.  Word  of  his  being  with  Paul  Jones 
had  somehow  reached  Bristol.  The  crafty  captain  had 
been  unwise,  for  once,  in  speaking  with  this  make- 
believe  coppersmith,  and  the  play  was  up  !  The  writer 
of  the  letter  said  that  a  safe  agent  would  meet  Mr. 
Dickson  any  night  that  week  at  seven  o'clock,  at  the 
inn  by  Old  Passage,  to  pay  him  his  own  price  for 


376  THE  TORY  LOVER 

certain  papers  or  information.  There  was  added  a 
handsome  offer  for  the  body  of  Paul  Jones,  alive  or 
dead,  in  case  he  should  not  be  in  custody  before  that 
time.  The  letter  was  sealed  as  other  letters  had  been, 
with  a  device  known  among  Thornton's  errand  runners. 

"  Old  Passage  1  "  repeated  the  happy  Dickson.  "  I 
must  now  find  where  that  place  is ;  but  they  evidently 
know  my  present  situation,  and  the  inn  is  no  doubt 
near  !  " 

He  stepped  softly  to  the  cabin  hatchway,  and  looked 
down.  The  captain's  face  was  turned  aside,  and  he 
breathed  heavily.  The  chart  of  that  coast  was  within 
easy  reach ;  Dickson  took  it  from  the  chest  where  it 
lay,  since  it  was  an  innocent  thing  to  have  in  hand. 
There  was  all  the  shore  of  the  Severn  and  the  Bristol 
Channel,  with  the  spot  already  marked  nearest  West- 
bury  church  where  the  captain  was  likely  to  land  ; 
and  here  beyond,  at  no  great  distance,  was  Old  Pas 
sage,  where  a  ferry  crossed  the  Severn.  He  should 
have  more  than  time  enough  for  his  own  errand  and  a 
good  evening  ashore,  while  Paul  Jones  was  riding  into 
Bristol,  perhaps  to  stay  there  against  his  will.  For 
the  slight  trouble  of  ripping  a  few  stitches  in  his 
waistcoat  seams  and  taking  out  a  slip  of  paper,  Dick- 
son  would  be  rich  enough  at  that  day's  end. 

"  Yes,  I  '11  go  to  the  southward  when  I  reach 
America,  and  start  anew,"  he  reflected.  "  I  've  had 
it  very  hard,  but  now  I  can  take  my  ease.  This,  with 
the  rest  of  my  savings,  will  make  me  snug." 

He  heard  the  captain  move,  and  the  planks  of  the 
berth  creak  in  the  stuffy  cabin.  They  were  running 
free  before  the  east  wind,  and  were  almost  at  the  fish 
ing  grounds. 


XLII 

THE  PASSAGE  INN 

"  The  Runlet  of  Brandy  was  a  loving  Runlet  and  floated  after  us 
out  of  pure  pity." 

JUST  before  nightfall,  that  same  day,  two  travel- 
worn  men  came  riding  along  a  country  road  toward 
Old  Passage,  the  ancient  ferry  ing-place  where  travelers 
from  the  south  and  west  of  England  might  cross  over 
into  Wales.  From  an  immemorial  stream  of  travel 
and  the  wear  of  weather,  the  road-bed  was  worn,  like 
a  swift  stream's  channel,  deep  below  the  level  of  the 
country.  One  of  the  riders  kept  glancing  timidly  at 
the  bushy  banks  above  his  head,  as  if  he  feared  to  see 
a  soldier  in  the  thicket  peering  down ;  his  companion 
sat  straight  in  his  saddle,  and  took  no  notice  of  any 
thing  but  his  horse  and  the  slippery  road.  It  had 
been  showery  all  the  afternoon,  and  they  were  both 
spattered  with  mud  from  cap  to  stirrup. 

As  they  came  northward,  side  by  side,  to  the  top  of 
a  little  hill,  the  anxious  rider  gave  a  sigh  of  relief, 
and  his  horse,  which  limped  badly  and  bore  the  marks 
of  having  been  on  his  knees,  whinnied  as  if  in  sym 
pathy.  The  wide  gray  waters  of  the  Severn  were 
spread  to  east  and  west ;  the  headland  before  them 
fell  off  like  a  cliff.  Below,  to  the  westward,  the  land 
was  edged  by  a  long  line  of  dike  which  walled  the 
sea  floods  away  from  some  low  meadows  that  stretched 
far  along  the  coast.  Over  the  water  were  drifting 


378  THE  TORY  LOVER 

low  clouds  of  fog  and  rain,  but  there  was  a  dull  gleam 
of  red  on  the  western  sky  like  a  winter  sunset,  and  the 
wind  was  blowing.  At  the  road's  end,  just  before 
them,  was  a  group  of  gray  stone  buildings  perched  on 
the  high  headland  above  the  Severn,  like  a  monastery 
or  place  of  military  defense. 

As  the  travelers  rode  up  to  the  Passage  Inn,  the 
inn  yard,  with  all  its  stables  and  outhouses,  looked 
deserted ;  the  sunset  gust  struck  a  last  whip  of  rain 
at  the  tired  men.  The  taller  of  the  two  called  im 
patiently  for  a  hostler  before  he  got  stiffly  to  the 
ground,  and  stamped  his  feet  as  he  stood  by  his  horse. 
It  was  a  poor  tired  country  nag,  with  a  kind  eye,  that 
began  to  seek  some  fondling  from  her  rider,  as  if  she 
harbored  no  ill  will  in  spite  of  hardships.  The  young 
man  patted  and  stroked  the  poor  creature,  which 
presently  dropped  her  head  low,  and  steamed,  as  if  it 
were  winter  weather,  high  into  the  cool  air. 

The  small  kitchen  windows  were  dimly  lighted; 
there  was  a  fire  burning  within,  but  the  whole  place 
looked  unfriendly,  with  its  dark  stone  walls  and 
heavily  slated  roof.  The  waters  below  were  almost 
empty  of  shipping,  as  if  there  were  a  storm  coming, 
but  as  the  rider  looked  he  saw  a  small  craft  creeping 
up  close  by  the  shore ;  she  was  like  a  French  fishing 
boat,  and  had  her  sweeps  out.  The  wind  was  dead 
against  her  out  of  the  east,  and  her  evident  effort 
added  to  the  desolateness  of  the  whole  scene.  The 
impatient  traveler  shouted  again,  with  a  strong,  honest 
voice  that  prevailed  against  both  wind  and  weather, 
so  that  one  of  the  stable  doors  was  flung  open  arid  a 
man  came  out ;  far  inside  the  dark  place  glowed  an 
early  lantern,  and  the  horses  turned  their  heads  that 
way,  eager  for  supper  and  warm  bedding.  There 


THE  PASSAGE  INN  379 

seemed  to  be  plenty  of  room  within  ;  there  was  no 
sound  of  stamping  hoofs,  or  a  squeal  from  crowded 
horses  that  nipped  their  fellows  to  get  more  comfort 
for  themselves.  Business  was  evidently  at  a  low  ebb. 

"  Rub  them  down  as  if  they  were  the  best  racers  in 
England  ;  give  them  the  best  feed  you  dare  as  soon  as 
they  cool,  —  full  oats  and  scant  hay  and  a  handful  of 
corn :  they  have  served  us  well,"  said  Wallingford, 
with  great  earnestness.  "  I  shall  look  to  them  myself 
in  an  hour  or  two,  and  you  shall  have  your  own  pay. 
The  roan's  knees  need  to  be  tight-bandaged.  Come, 
Hammet,  will  you  not  alight  ?  "  he  urged  his  comrade, 
who,  through  weariness  or  uncertainty,  still  sat,  with 
drooping  head  and  shoulders,  on  his  poor  horse. 
"  Shake  the  mud  off  you.  Here,  I  '11  help  you,  then, 
if  your  wound  hurts  again,"  as  the  man  gave  a  groan 
in  trying  to  dismount.  "  After  the  first  wrench  't  is 
easy  enough.  Come,  you  '11  be  none  the  worse  for 
your  cropper  into  soft  clay  !  "  He  laughed  cheerfully 
as  they  crossed  the  yard  toward  a  door  to  which  the 
hostler  pointed  them. 

The  mistress  of  the  inn,  a  sharp-looking,  almost 
pretty  woman,  suddenly  flung  her  door  open,  and 
came  out  on  the  step  to  bid  them  good-evening  in  a 
civil  tone,  and  in  the  same  breath,  as  she  recognized 
their  forlorn  appearance,  to  bid  them  begone.  Her 
house  was  like  to  be  full,  that  night,  of  gentlefolk  and 
others  who  had  already  bespoken  lodging,  and  she  had 
ceased  to  take  in  common  wayfarers  since  trade  was 
so  meagre  in  these  hard  times,  and  she  had  been  set 
upon  by  soldiers  and  fined  for  harboring  a  pack  of 
rascals  who  had  landed  their  run  goods  from  France 
and  housed  them  unbeknownst  in  her  hay  barn.  They 
could  see  for  themselves  that  she  had  taken  down  the 


380  THE  TORY  LOVER 

tavern  sign,  and  was  no  more  bound  to  entertain  them 
than  any  other  decent  widow  woman  would  be  along 
the  road. 

She  railed  away,  uncontradicted ;  but  there  was  a 
pleasant  smile  on  Walliiigford's  handsome  face  that 
seemed  to  increase  rather  than  diminish  at  her  flow  of 
words,  until  at  last  she  smiled  in  return,  though  half 
against  her  will.  The  poor  fellow  looked  pale  and 
tired :  he  was  some  gentleman  in  distress ;  she  had 
seen  his  like  before. 

"  We  must  trouble  you  for  supper  and  a  fire,"  he 
said  to  the  landlady.  "  I  want  some  brandy  at  once 
for  my  comrade,  and  while  you  get  supper  we  can  take 
some  sleep.  We  have  been  riding  all  day.  There 
will  be  a  gentleman  to  meet  me  here  by  and  by  out  of 
Bristol,"  and  he  took  advantage  of  her  stepping  aside 
a  little  to  bow  politely  to  her  and  make  her  precede 
him  into  the  kitchen.  There  was  a  quiet  authority 
in  his  behavior  which  could  not  but  be  admired ;  the 
good  woman  took  notice  that  the  face  of  her  guest 
was  white  with  fatigue,  and  even  a  little  tremulous  in 
spite  of  his  calmness. 

"  If  he  's  a  hunted  man,  I  '11  hide  him  safe,"  she 
now  said  to  herself.  It  was  not  the  habit  of  Old 
Passage  Inn  to  ask  curious  questions  of  its  guests,  or 
why  they  sometimes  came  at  evening,  and  kept  watch 
for  boats  that  ran  in  from  mid-channel  and  took  them 
off  by  night.  This  looked  like  a  gentleman,  indeed, 
who  would  be  as  likely  to  leave  two  gold  pieces  on  the 
table  as  one. 

"  I  have  supper  to  get  for  a  couple  o'  thieves  (by  t' 
looks  of  'em)  that  was  here  last  night  waiting  for 
some  one  who  did  n't  come,  —  a  noisy  lot,  too  ;  to 
night  they  '11  get  warning  to  go  elsewhere,"  she  said, 


THE  PASSAGE  INN  381 

in  a  loud  tone.  "  I  shall  serve  them  first,  and  bid 
them  begone.  And  I  expect  some  gentlefolk,  too. 
There  's  a  fire  lit  for  'em  now  in  my  best  room ;  it 
was  damp  there,  and  they  'd  ill  mix  with  t'  rest.  'T  is 
old  Mr.  Alderman  Davis  a-comin'  out  o'  Bristol,  one 
o'  their  great  merchants,  and  like  to  be  their  next 
lord  mayor,  so  folks  says.  He  's  not  been  this  way 
before  these  three  years,"  she  said,  with  importance. 

"  Let  me  know  when  he  comes  !  "  cried  Wallingford 
eagerly,  as  he  stood  by  the  fireplace.  There  was  a 
flush  of  color  in  his  cheeks  now,  and  he  turned  to  his 
companion,  who  had  sunk  into  a  corner  of  the  settle. 
"  Thank  God,  Hammet,"  he  exclaimed,  "  we  're  safe  ! 
The  end  of  all  our  troubles  has  come  at  last !  " 

The  innkeeper  saw  that  he  was  much  moved ;  some 
thing  about  him  had  quickly  touched  her  sympathy. 
She  could  not  have  told  why  she  shared  his  evident 
gratitude,  or  why  the  inn  should  be  his  place  of  refuge, 
but  if  he  were  waiting  for  Mr.  Davis,  there  was  no 
fault  to  find. 

"  You  '11  sleep  a  good  pair  of  hours  without  know 
ing  it,  the  two  of  you,"  she  grumbled  good-naturedly. 
"  Throw  off  your  muddy  gear  there,  and  be  off  out  o' 
my  way,  now,  an'  I  '11  do  the  best  I  can.  Take  the 
left-hand  chamber  at  the  stairhead ;  there 's  a  couple 
o'  beds.  I  've  two  suppers  to  get  before  the  tide  turns 
to  the  ebb.  The  packet  folks  '11  soon  be  coming ;  an' 
those  fellows  that  wait  for  their  mate  that 's  on  a  fish 
ing  smack,  —  I  may  want  help  with  'em,  if  they  're  's 
bad  's  they  look.  Yes,  I  '11  call  ye,  sir,  if  Mr.  Davis 
comes  ;  but  he  may  be  kept,  the  weather  is  so  bad." 

Hammet  had  drunk  the  brandy  thirstily,  and  was 
already  cowering  as  if  with  an  ague  over  the  fire. 
Wallingford  spoke  to  him  twice  before  he  moved. 


382  THE  TORY  LOVER 

The  landlady  watched  them  curiously  from  the  stair- 
foot,  as  they  went  up,  to  see  that  they  found  the  right 
room. 

"  'T  is  one  o'  the  nights  when  every  strayaway  in 
England  is  like  to  come  clacking  at  my  door,"  she 
said,  not  without  satisfaction,  as  she  made  a  desperate 
onset  at  her  long  evening's  work. 

"  A  pair  o'  runaways  !  "  she  muttered  again  ;  "  but 
the  tall  lad  can't  help  princeing  it  in  his  drover's 
clothes.  I  '11  tell  the  stable  to  deny  they  're  here,  if 
any  troopers  come.  I  '11  help  'em  safe  off  the  land  or 
into  Bristol,  whether  Mr.  Alderman  Davis  risks  his 
old  bones  by  night  or  not.  A  little  more  mercy  in 
this  world  ain't  goin'  to  hurt  it !  " 


XLIII 

THEY  FOLLOW  THE  DIKE 

"  There  's  not  a  fibre  in  my  trembling1  frame 
That  does  not  vibrate  when  thy  step  draws  near." 

EAKLY  in  the  morning  of  that  day,  when  Mr.  John 
Davis  had  been  returning  from  a  brief  visit  to  his 
counting-room,  he  was  surprised  at  being  run  against 
by  a  disreputable  looking  fellow,  who  dashed  out  of  a 
dirty  alley,  and  disappeared  again  as  quickly,  after 
putting  a  letter  into  his  hand.  The  alderman  turned, 
irate,  to  look  after  this  lawless  person,  and  then 
marched  on  with  offended  dignity  up  the  hill.  When 
he  had  turned  a  safe  corner  he  stopped,  and,  holding 
his  stout  cane  under  his  arm,  proceeded  to  unfold  the 
paper.  He  had  received  threats  before  in  this  fash 
ion,  like  all  magistrates  or  town  officials  ;  some  loose 
fellow  warned  off,  or  a  smuggler  heavily  fined,  would 
now  and  then  make  threats  against  the  authorities. 

The  letter  in  his  hand  proved  to  be  of  another  sort. 
It  might  be  dingy  without,  but  within  the  handwriting 
was  that  of  a  gentleman. 

"  Dear  Sir,"  he  read  slowly,  "  my  father's  old  friend 
and  mine,  —  I  ask  your  kind  assistance  in  a  time  of 
great  danger,  and  even  distress.  I  shall  not  venture 
to  Bristol  before  I  have  your  permission.  I  am  late 
from  prison,  where  I  was  taken  from  an  American 
frigate.  At  last  I  have  found  a  chance  to  get  to  Chip- 


384  THE  TORY  LOVER 

penham  market  as  a  drover,  and  I  hope  to  reach  Old 
Passage  Inn  (where  I  was  once  in  your  company) 
early  in  the  night  on  Friday.  Could  you  come  or 
seed  to  meet  me  there,  if  it  is  safe  ?  I  know  or  guess 
your  own  principles,  but  for  the  sake  of  the  past  I 
think  you  will  give  what  aid  he  needs  to  Roger 

W ,  of  Piscataqua,  in  New  England.  Your 

dear  lady,  my  kinswoman,  will  not  forget  the  boy  to 
whom  she  was  ever  kind,  nor  will  you,  dear  sir,  I 
believe.  I  can  tell  you  everything,  if  we  may  meet. 
What  I  most  desire  is  to  get  to  France,  where  I  may 
join  my  ship.  This  goes  by  a  safe  hand." 

The  reader  struck  his  cane  to  the  sidewalk,  and 
laughed  aloud. 

"  What  will  little  missy  say  to  this  ?  "  he  said,  as 
he  marched  off.  "  I  '11  hurry  on  to  carry  her  the 
news ! " 

Miss  Hamilton  ran  out  to  meet  the  smiling  old 
man,  as  she  saw  him  coming  toward  the  house,  and 
was  full  of  pretty  friendliness  before  he  could  speak. 

"  You  were  away  before  I  was  awake,"  she  said, 
"  and  I  have  been  watching  for  you  this  half  hour  past, 
sir.  First,  you  must  know  that  dear  Madam  Walling- 
ford  is  better  than  for  many  days,  and  has  been  asking 
for  you  to  visit  her,  if  it  please  you.  And  I  have  a 
new  plan  for  us.  Some  one  has  sent  me  word  that 
there  may  be  news  out  of  the  Mill  Prison,  if  we  can  be 
at  the  inn  at  Passage  to-night.  I  hope  you  will  not 
say  it  is  too  far  to  ride,"  she  pleaded ;  "  you  have 
often  shown  me  the  place  when  we  rode  beyond 
Clifton  " 

Mr.  Davis's  news  was  old  already ;  his  face  fell  with 
disappointment. 

"  It  was  a  poor  sailor  who  brought  me  word,"  she 


THEY  FOLLOW  THE   DIKE  385 

continued,  speaking  more  slowly,  and  watching  him 
with  anxiety.  "  Perhaps  we  shall  hear  from  Roger. 
He  may  have  been  retaken,  and  some  one  brings  us 
word  from  him,  who  has  luckily  escaped." 

The  old  merchant  looked  at  Mary  shrewdly.  "  You 
had  no  message  from  Wallingford  himself?"  he 
asked. 

"  Oh  no,"  said  the  girl  wistfully ;  "  that  were  to  put 
a  happy  end  to  everything.  But  I  do  think  that  we 
may  have  news  of  him.  If  you  had  not  come,  I  should 
have  gone  to  find  you,  I  was  so  impatient." 

Mr.  Davis  seated  himself  in  his  chair,  and  took  on 
the  air  of  a  magistrate,  now  that  they  were  in  the 
house.  After  all,  Roger  Wallingford  could  know 
nothing  of  his  mother  or  Miss  Hamilton,  or  of  their 
being  in  England  ;  there  was  no  hint  of  them  in  the 
note. 

"  I  suppose  that  we  can  make  shift  to  ride  to  Pas 
sage,"  he  said  soberly.  "  It  is  not  so  far  as  many  a 
day's  ride  that  you  and  I  have  taken  this  year  ;  but  I 
think  we  may  have  rain  again,  from  the  look  of  the 
clouds,  and  I  am  always  in  danger  of  the  gout  in  this 
late  summer  weather.  Perhaps  it  will  be  only  another 
wild-goose  chase,"  he  added  gruffly,  but  with  a  twinkle 
in  his  eyes. 

"  If  I  could  tell  you  who  brought  the  news  !  "  said 
Mary  impulsively.  "  No,  I  must  not  risk  his  name, 
even  with  you,  dear  friend.  But  indeed  I  have  great 
hope,  and  Madam  is  strangely  better;  somehow,  my 
heart  is  very  light !  " 

The  old  man  looked  up  with  a  smile,  as  Mary  stood 
before  him.  He  had  grown  very  fond  of  the  child, 
and  loved  to  see  that  the  drawn  look  of  pain  and 
patience  was  gone  now  from  her  face. 


386  THE  TORY  LOVER 

"  I  wish  that  it  were  night  already.  When  can  we 
start  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Friday  is  no  lucky  day,"  insisted  Mr.  John  Davis, 
"  but  we  must  do  what  we  can.  So  Madam's  heart  is 
light,  too  ?  Well,  all  this  may  mean  something,"  he 
said  indulgently.  "  I  must  first  see  some  of  our  town 
council  who  are  coming  to  discuss  important  matters 
with  me  at  a  stated  hour  this  afternoon,  and  then  we 
can  ride  away.  We  have  searched  many  an  inn  to 
gether,  and  every  village  knows  us  this  west  side  of 
Dorset,  but  I  believe  we  have  never  tried  Old  Passage 
before.  Put  on  your  thick  riding  gown  with  the  little 
capes  ;  I  look  for  both  rain  and  chill." 

The  weather  looked  dark  and  showery  in  the  east ; 
the  clouds  were  gathering  fast  there  and  in  the  north, 
though  the  sun  still  fell  on  the  long  stretch  of  Dundry. 
It  had  been  a  bright  day  for  Bristol,  but  now  a  dark, 
wet  night  was  coming  on.  The  towers  of  the  abbey 
church  and  St.  Mary  Kadcliffe  stood  like  gray  rocks 
in  a  lake  of  fog,  and  if  he  had  been  on  any  other 
errand,  the  alderman  would  have  turned  their  horses 
on  the  height  of  Clifton,  and  gone  back  to  his  comfort 
able  home.  The  pretty  chimes  in  the  old  church  at 
Westbury  called  after  them  the  news  that  it  was  five 
o'clock,  as  they  cantered  and  trotted  on  almost  to  the 
borders  of  the  Severn  itself,  only  to  be  stopped  and 
driven  to  shelter  by  a  heavy  fall  of  rain.  They  were 
already  belated,  and  Mr.  Davis  displeased  himself 
with  the  thought  that  they  were  in  for  a  night's  ab 
sence,  and  in  no  very  luxurious  quarters.  He  had 
counted  upon  the  waning  moon  to  get  them  back, 
however  late,  to  Bristol ;  but  the  roads  were  more  and 
more  heavy  as  they  rode  on.  At  last  they  found 


THEY  FOLLOW  THE   DIKE  387 

themselves  close  to  the  water-side,  and  made  their  two 
horses  scramble  up  the  high  dike  that  bordered  it,  and 
so  got  a  shorter  way  to  Passage  and  a  drier  one  than 
the  highway  they  had  left. 

The  great  dike  was  like  one  of  the  dikes  of  Holland, 
with  rich  meadow  farms  behind  it,  which  the  high  tides 
and  spring  floods  had  often  drowned  and  spoiled  in 
ancient  days.  The  Severn  looked  gray  and  sullen,  as 
they  rode  along  beside  it ;  there  were  but  two  or  three 
poor  fishing  craft  running  in  from  sea,  and  a  very 
dim  gray  outline  of  the  Welsh  hills  beyond.  There 
was  no  comfortable  little  haven  anywhere  in  view  in 
this  great  landscape  and  sea  border ;  no  sign  of  a  town 
or  even  a  fishing  hamlet  near  the  shore ;  only  the  long, 
curving  line  of  the  dike  itself,  and  miles  away,  like  a 
forsaken  citadel,  the  Passage  Inn  stood  high  and  lonely. 
The  wind  grew  colder  as  they  rode,  and  they  rode  in 
silence,  each  lamenting  the  other's  discomfort,  but 
clinging  to  the  warm,  unquenchable  hope  of  happi 
ness  that  comforted  their  hearts.  There  were  two  or 
three  cottages  of  the  dikekeepers  wedged  against  the 
inner  side  of  the  embankment,  each  with  a  little  gable 
window  that  looked  seaward.  One  might  lay  his  hand 
upon  the  low  roofs  in  passing,  and  a  stout  bench 
against  the  wall  offered  a  resting-place  to  those  trav 
elers  who  had  trodden  a  smooth  footpath  on  the  top  of 
the  dike. 

Now  and  then  the  horses  must  be  made  to  leap  a 
little  bridge,  and  the  darkness  was  fast  gathering. 
Down  at  the  cottage  sides  there  were  wallflowers  on 
the  window-sills,  and  in  the  last  that  they  passed  a 
candle  was  already  lighted,  and  bright  firelight  twin 
kled  cheerfully  through  the  lattice.  They  met  no  one 
all  the  way,  but  once  they  were  confronted  by  a  quar- 


388  THE  TORY  LOVER 

relsome,  pushing  herd  of  young  cattle  returning  from 
the  salt  sea-pasturage  outside.  There  was  a  last  un 
expected  glow  of  red  from  the  west,  a  dull  gleam  that 
lit  the  low-drifting  clouds  above  the  water,  and  shone 
back  for  a  moment  on  the  high  windows  of  the  inn 
itself,  and  brightened  the  cold  gray  walls.  Then  the 
night  settled  down,  as  if  a  great  cloud  covered  the 
whole  country  with  its  wings. 

Half  an  hour  later  Mr.  John  Davis  dismounted  with 
some  difficulty,  as  other  guests  now  in  the  inn  had 
done  before  him,  and  said  aloud  that  he  was  too  old  a 
man  for  such  adventures,  and  one  who  ought  to  be  at 
home  before  his  own  good  fire.  They  were  met  at  the 
door  by  the  mistress  of  the  inn,  who  had  not  looked 
for  them  quite  so  early,  though  she  had  had  notice  by 
the  carrier  out  of  Bristol  of  their  coming.  There  was 
a  loud  buzz  of  voices  in  the  inn  kitchen ;  the  place 
was  no  longer  lonely,  and  an  unexpected,  second  troop 
of  noisy  Welsh  packmen  and  drovers  were  waiting  out 
side  for  their  suppers,  before  they  took  the  evening 
packet  at  the  turn  of  tide.  The  landlady  had  every 
thing  to  do  at  once ;  one  of  her  usual  helpers  was 
absent ;  she  looked  resentful  and  disturbed. 

"  I  'd  ought  to  be  ready,  sir,  but  I  'm  swamped  with 
folks  this  night,"  she  declared.  "  I  fear  there  '11  be 
no  packet  leave,  either ;  the  wind  's  down,  and  the 
last  gust 's  blown.  If  the  packet  don't  get  in,  she 
can't  get  out,  tide  or  no  tide  to  help  her.  I  've  got 
your  fire  alight  in  the  best  room,  but  you  '11  wait  long 
for  your  suppers,  I  fear,  sir.  My  kitchen 's  no  place 
for  a  lady." 

"  Tut,  tut,  my  good  lass ! "  said  the  alderman. 
"  We  '11  wait  an'  welcome.  I  know  your  best  room, 


ALONG   THE    DIKK 


THEY  FOLLOW  THE  DIKE  389 

—  't  is  a  snug  enough  place  ;  and  we  '11  wait  there  till 
you  're  free.  Give  me  a  mug  of  your  good  ale  now, 
and  some  bread  and  cheese,  and  think  no  more  of  us. 
I  expect  to  find  a  young  man  here,  later  on,  to  speak 
with  me.  There  's  no  one  yet  asking  for  me,  I  dare 
say  ?  We  are  before  our  time." 

The  busy  woman  shook  her  head  and  hurried  away, 
banging  the  door  behind  her ;  and  presently,  as  she 
crossed  the  kitchen,  she  remembered  the  young  gen 
tleman  in  the  rough  clothes  upstairs,  and  then  only 
thanked  Heaven  to  know  that  he  was  sound  asleep, 
and  not  clamoring  for  his  supper  on  the  instant,  like 
all  the  rest. 

"  I  '11  not  wake  him  yet  for  a  bit,"  she  told  herself  ; 
"  then  they  can  all  sup  together  pleasant,  him  and  the 
young  lady." 

Mr.  Davis,  after  having  warmed  himself  before  the 
bright  fire  of  coals,  and  looked  carefully  at  the  por 
trait  of  his  Majesty  King  George  the  Third  on  the 
parlor  wall,  soon  began  to  despair  of  the  ale,  and  went 
out  into  the  kitchen  to  take  a  look  at  things.  There 
was  nobody  there  to  interest  him  much,  and  the  air 
was  stifling.  Young  Wallingford  might  possibly  have 
been  among  this  very  company  in  some  rough  disguise, 
but  he  certainly  was  not;  and  presently  the  alderman 
returned,  followed  by  a  young  maid,  who  carried  a 
tray  with  the  desired  refreshments. 

"  There  's  a  yellow-faced  villain  out  there ;  a  gallows 
bird,  if  ever  I  saw  one  !  "  he  said,  as  he  seated  himself 
again  by  the  fire. 

Mary  Hamilton  stood  by  the  window,  to  watch  if 
the  captain  might  be  coming.  It  was  already  so  dark 
that  she  could  hardly  see  what  might  happen  out  of 
doors.  She  envied  her  companion  the  ease  with  which 


390  THE  TORY  LOVER 

lie  had  gone  out  to  take  a  look  at  tlie  men  in  the  great 
kitchen  ;  but  Paul  Jones  would  be  sure  to  look  for  her 
when  he  came ;  there  was  nothing  to  do  but  to  wait 
for  him,  if  one  could  only  find  proper  patience.  The 
bleak  inn  parlor,  scene  of  smugglers'  feasts  and  run 
away  weddings,  was  brightened  by  the  good  fire.  The 
alderman  was  soon  comforted  in  both  mind  and  body, 
and  Mary,  concealing  her  impatience  as  best  she 
could,  shared  his  preliminary  evening  meal,  as  she 
had  done  many  a  night,  in  many  an  inn,  before.  She 
had  a  persistent  fear  that  Paul  Jones  or  his  messenger 
might  come  and  go  away  again,  and  she  grew  very 
anxious  as  she  sat  thinking  about  him ;  but  as  she 
looked  up  and  began  to  speak,  she  saw  that  the  tired 
old  man  could  not  answer  ;  he  was  sound  asleep  in  his 
chair.  The  good  ale  had  warmed  and  soothed  him 
so  that  she  had  not  the  heart  to  wake  him.  She  re 
signed  herself  to  silence,  but  listened  for  footsteps,  and 
to  the  ceaseless  clink  of  glasses  and  loud  clatter  of 
voices  in  the  room  beyond.  The  outer  door  had  a  loud 
and  painful  creak,  and  for  a  long  time  she  heard  no 
body  open  it,  until  some  one  came  to  give  a  loud  shout 
for  passengers  who  were  intending  to  take  the  packet. 
Then  there  was  a  new  racket  of  departure,  and  the 
sound  of  the  landlady  angrily  pursuing  some  delin 
quent  guest  into  the  yard  to  claim  her  pay ;  but  still 
Mr.  Davis  slept  soundly.  The  poor  woman  would  be 
getting  her  kitchen  to  rights  now ;  presently  it  would 
be  no  harm  to  wake  her  companion,  and  see  if  their 
business  might  not  be  furthered.  It  was  not  late ; 
they  really  had  not  been  there  much  above  an  hour 
yet,  only  the  time  was  very  slow  in  passing ;  and  as 
Mary  watched  Mr.  John  Davis  asleep  in  his  chair,  his 
kind  old  face  had  a  tired  look  that  went  to  her  afiec- 


THEY  FOLLOW  THE   DIKE  391 

tionate  heart.  At  last  she  heard  a  new  footstep  com 
ing  down  the  narrow  stairway  into  the  passage.  She 
could  not  tell  why,  but  there  was  a  sudden  thrill  at 
her  heart.  There  was  a  tumult  in  her  breast,  a  sense 
of  some  great  happiness  that  was  very  near  to  her ;  it 
was  like  some  magnet  that  worked  upon  her  very 
heart  itself,  and  set  her  whole  frame  to  quivering. 


XLIV 

THE   ROAD'S   END 

"  In  sum,  such  a  man  as  any  enemy  could  not  wish  him  worse  than 
to  be  himself." 

"  I  found  him  in  a  lonely  place : 
Long  nights  he  ruled  my  soul  in  sleep  : 
Long  days  I  thought  upon  his  face." 

AFTER  the  packet  went  there  were  three  men  left  In 
the  kitchen,  who  sat  by  themselves  at  a  small  table. 
The  low-storied,  shadowy  room  was  ill  lighted  by  a 
sullen,  slow-burning  fire,  much  obscured  by  pots  and 
kettles,  and  some  tallow  candles  scattered  on  out-of- 
the-way  shelves.  The  mistress  of  the  place  scolded 
over  her  heap  of  clattering  crockery  and  heavy  pewter 
in  a  far  corner.  The  men  at  the  table  had  finished 
their  supper,  and  having  called  for  more  drink,  were 
now  arguing  over  it.  Two  of  them  wore  coats  that 
were  well  spattered  with  mud ;  the  third  was  a  man 
better  dressed,  who  seemed  above  his  company,  but 
wore  a  plausible,  persistent  look  on  his  sallow  counte 
nance.  This  was  Dickson,  who  had  been  set  ashore 
in  a  fishing  boat,  and  was  now  industriously  plying 
his  new  acquaintances  with  brandy,  beside  drinking 
with  eagerness  himself  at  every  round  of  the  bottle. 
He  forced  his  hospitality  upon  the  better  looking  of 
his  two  companions,  who  could  not  be  made  to  charge 
his  glass  to  any  depth,  or  to  empty  it  so  quickly  as  his 
mate.  Now  and  then  they  put  their  heads  together  to 


THE  ROAD'S  END  393 

hear  a  tale  which  Diekson  was  telling,  and  once  burst 
into  a  roar  of  incredulous  laughter  which  made  the 
landlady  command  them  to  keep  silence. 

She  was  busy  now  with  trying  to  bring  out  of  the . 
confusion  an  orderly  supper  for  her  patient  guests  of  the 
parlor,  and  sent  disapproving  glances  toward  the  three 
men  near  the  fire,  as  if  she  were  ready  to  speed  their 
going.  They  had  drunk  hard,  but  the  sallow-faced 
man  called  for  another  bottle,  and  joked  with  the  poor 
slatternly  girl  who  went  and  came  serving  their  table. 
They  were  so  busy  with  their  own  affairs  that  they  did 
not  notice  a  man  who  slipped  into  the  kitchen  behind 
them,  as  the  Welshmen  went  out.  As  the  three  drank 
a  toast  together  he  crossed  to  the  fireside,  and  seated 
himself  in  the  corner  of  the  great  settle,  where  the 
high  back  easily  concealed  his  slight  figure  from  their 
sight.  Both  the  women  saw  him  there,  but  he  made 
them  a  warning  gesture.  He  was  not  a  yard  away 
from  Diekson. 

The  talk  was  freer  than  ever ;  the  giver  of  the  feast, 
in  an  unwonted  outburst  of  generosity,  flung  a  shilling 
on  the  flagged  floor,  and  bade  the  poor  maid  scramble 
for  it  and  keep  it  for  herself.  Then  Diekson  let  his 
tongue  run  away  with  all  his  discretion.  Pie  began 
to  brag  to  these  business  acquaintances  of  the  clever 
ways  in  which  he  had  gained  his  own  ends  on  board 
the  Kanger,  and  outwitted  those  who  had  too  much 
confidence  in  themselves.  He  even  bragged  that  Cap 
tain  John  Paul  Jones  was  in  his  power,  after  a  bold 
fashion  that  made  his  admiring  audience  open  their 
heavy  eyes. 

"  We  're  safe  enough  here  from  that  mistaken  fer 
ret,"  he  insisted,  after  briefly  describing  the  ease  with 
which  he  had  carried  out  their  evening  plans.  "  You 


394  THE  TORY  LOVER 

might  have  been  cooling  your  heels  here  waiting  for 
me  the  whole  week  long,  and  I  waiting  for  my  money, 
too,  but  for  such  a  turn  of  luck !  If  I  did  n't  want  to 
get  to  France,  and  get  my  discharge,  and  go  back  to 
America  as  quick  as  possible  without  suspicion,  I  'd  tell 
you  just  where  he  landed,  and  put  him  into  your  hands 
like  a  cat  in  a  bag,  to  be  easy  drowned ! " 

"  He  's  in  Bristol  to-night,  if  you  must  know,"  Dick- 
son  went  on,  after  again  refreshing  himself  with  the 
brandy  ;  "  we  set  him  ashore  to  ride  there  over  Clifton 
Downs.  Yes,  I  might  have  missed  ye.  He  's  a  bold 
devil,  but  to-night  the  three  of  us  here  could  bag  him 
easy.  I  've  put  many  a  spoke  in  his  wheel.  There 
was  a  young  fellow  aboard  us,  too,  that  had  done  me 
a  wrong  at  home  that  I  never  forgave ;  and  that  night 
at  Whitehaven  I  Ve  already  told  ye  of,  when  I  fixed 
the  candles,  after  I  got  these  papers  that  you  've  come 
for,  I  dropped  some  pieces  of  'em,  and  things  that  was 
with  'em,  in  my  pretty  gentleman's  locker.  So  good 
friends  were  parted  after  that,  and  the  whole  White- 
haven  matter  laid  to  his  door.  I  could  tell  ye  the 
whole  story.  His  name 's  Wallingford,  curse  him, 
and  they  say  he  's  got  a  taste  o'  your  Mill  Prison  by 
this  time  that 's  paid  off  all  our  old  scores.  I  hope 
he  's  dead  and  damned  !  " 

"  Who  's  your  man  Wallingford  ?  I  've  heard  the 
name  myself.  There  's  a  reward  out  for  him  ;  or  did 
I  hear  he  was  pardoned  ?  "  asked  one  of  the  men. 

"  'T  was  a  scurvy  sort  o'  way  to  make  him  pay  his 
debts.  I  'd  rather  ended  it  man  fashion,  if  I  had  such 
a  grudge,"  said  the  other  listener,  the  man  who  had 
been  drinking  least. 

Dickson's  wits  were  now  overcome  by  the  brandy, 
hard-headed  as  he  might  boast  himself.  "  If  you  knew 


THE   ROAD'S   END  395 

all  I  had  suffered  at  his  hands  !  "  he  protested.  "  He 
robbed  me  of  a  good  living  at  home,  and  made  me  fail 
in  my  plans.  I  was  like  to  be  a  laughingstock !  " 

The  two  men  shrugged  their  shoulders  when  he  next 
pushed  the  bottle  toward  them,  and  said  that  they  had 
had  enough.  "  Come,  now,"  said  one  of  them,  "  let 's 
finish  our  business !  You  have  this  document  o'  one 
Yankee  privateersnian  called  Paul  Jones  that  our  prin 
cipal  's  bound  for  to  get.  You  've  set  your  own  thieves' 
price  on  it,  and  we  're  sent  here  to  pay  it.  I  'm  to  see 
it  first,  to  be  sure  there 's  no  cheat,  and  then  make  a 
finish." 

"  The  paper  's  worth  more  than  't  was  a  month  ago," 
said  Dickson  shrewdly.  His  face  was  paler  than  ever, 
and  in  strange  contrast  to  the  red  faces  of  his  compan 
ions.  "  The  time  is  come  pretty  near  for  carrying  out 
the  North  Sea  scheme.  He  may  have  varied  from 
this  paper  when  he  found  the  writing  gone,  but  I  know 
for  a  fact  he  has  the  cruise  still  in  mind,  and  't  would 
be  a  hard  blow  to  England." 

"  'T  is  all  rot  you  should  ask  for  more  money," 
answered  the  first  speaker  doggedly.  "  We  have  no 
more  money  with  us ;  't  is  enough,  too  ;  the  weight  of 
it  has  gallded  me  with  every  jolt  of  the  horse.  Say, 
will  you  take  it  or  leave  it  ?  Let  me  but  have  a  look 
at  the  paper !  I  've  a  sample  of  their  cipher  here  to 
gauge  it  by.  Come,  work  smart,  I  tell  ye !  You  '11 
be  too  drunk  to  deal  with  soon,  and  we  must  quick 
begone." 

Dickson,  swearing  roundly  at  them,  got  some  papers 
out  of  his  pocket,  and  held  one  of  them  in  his  hand. 

"  Give  me  the  money  first !  "  he  growled. 

"  Give  us  the  paper,"  said  the  other ;  "  't  is  our 
honest  right." 


396  THE  TOEY  LOVER 

There  was  a  heavy  tramping  in  the  room  above,  as 
if  some  one  had  risen  from  sleep,  and  there  was  a 
grumble  of  voices ;  a  door  was  opened  and  shut,  and 
steady  footsteps  came  down  the  creaking  stair  and 
through  the  dark  entry  ;  a  moment  more,  and  the  tall 
figure  of  a  young  man  stood  within  the  room. 

"  Well,  then,  and  is  my  supper  ready  ?  "  asked  Wal- 
lingford,  looking  about  him  cheerfully,  but  a  little 
dazed  by  the  light. 

There  was  a  smothered  outcry  ;  the  table  was  overset, 
and  one  of  the  three  men  sprang  to  his  feet  as  if  to 
make  his  escape. 

"  Stand  where  you  are  till  I  have  done  with  you !  " 
cried  the  lieutenant  instantly,  facing  him.  "  You  have 
a  reckoning  to  pay !  By  Heaven,  I  shall  kill  you  i£ 
you  move !  "  and  he  set  his  back  against  the  door  by 
which  he  had  just  entered.  "  Tell  me  first,  for  Heaven's 
sake,  you  murderer,  is  the  Ranger  within  our  reach?" 

"She  is  lying  in  the  port  of  Brest,"  answered  the 
trapped  adventurer,  with  much  effort.  He  was  look 
ing  about  him  to  see  if  there  were  any  way  to  get  out 
of  the  kitchen,  and  his  face  was  like  a  handful  of 
dirty  wool.  Outside  the  nearest  window  there  were  two 
honest  faces  from  the  Roscoff  boat's  crew  pressed  close 
against  the  glass,  and  looking  in  delightedly  at  the 
play.  Dickson  saw  them,  and  his  heart  sank  ;  he  had 
been  sure  they  were  waiting  for  Paul  Jones,  half  a 
dozen  miles  down  shore. 

"  Who-  are  these  men  with  you,  and  what  is  your 
errand  here?"  demanded  Wallingford,  who  saw  no 
one  but  the  two  strangers  and  his  enemy. 

"  None  of  your  damned  business  !  "  yelled  Dickson, 
like  a  man  suddenly  crazed ;  his  eyes  were  starting 
from  his  head.  The  landlady  came  scolding  across 


THE   ROAD'S   END  397 

the  kitchen  to  bid  him  pay  and  begone,  with  his  com 
pany,  and  Dickson  turned  again  to  Wallingford  with 
a  sneer. 

"You  '11  excuse  us,  then,  at  this  lady's  request," 
he  said,  grinning.  The  brandy  had  come  to  his  aid 
again,  now  the  first  shock  of  their  meeting  was  past, 
and  made  him  overbold.  "  I  '11  bid  you  good-night, 
my  hero,  'less  you  '11  come  with  us.  There  's  five 
pounds  bounty  on  his  head,  sirs !  "  he  told  the  messen 
gers,  who  stood  by  the  table. 

They  looked  at  each  other  and  at  Dickson ;  it  was 
a  pretty  encounter,  but  they  were  not  themselves ;  they 
were  both  small-sized  men,  moreover,  and  Wallingford 
was  a  strapping  great  fellow  to  tackle  in  a  fight.  There 
he  stood,  with  his  back  against  the  door,  an  easy  mark 
for  a  bullet,  and  Dickson's  hand  went  in  desperation  a 
second  time  to  his  empty  pocket.  The  woman,  seeing 
this,  cried  that  there  should  be  no  shooting,  and  step 
ping  forward  stood  close  before  Wallingford ;  she  had 
parted  men  in  a  quarrel  many  a  time  before,  and  the 
newcomer  was  a  fine  upstanding  young  gentleman,  of 
a  different  sort  from  the  rest. 

"You  have  no  proof  against  me,  anyway  !  "  railed 
Dickson.  He  could  not  bear  Wallingford's  eyes  upon 
him.  His  Dutch  courage  began  to  ebb,  and  the  other 
men  took  no  part  with  him  ;  it  was  nothing  they  saw 
fit  to  meddle  with,  so  far  as  the  game  had  gone.  He 
still  held  the  paper  in  his  hand. 

"  You  have  n't  a  chance  against  us  !  "  he  now  bel 
lowed,  in  despair.  "  We  are  three  to  your  one  here. 
Take  him,  my  boys,  and  tie  him  down  !  He  's  worth 
five  pounds  to  you,  and  you  may  have  it  all  between 


ye ! 


At  this  moment  there  was  a  little  stir  behind  the 


398  THE  TORY  LOVER 

settle,  and  some  one  else  stepped  out  before  them,  as 
if  lie  were  amused  by  such  bungling  play. 

"  I  have  got  proof  enough  myself  now,"  said  Cap 
tain  Paul  Jones  quietly,  standing  there  like  the  master 
of  them  all,  "  and  if  hanging  's  enough  proof  for  you, 
Dickson,  I  must  say  you  've  a  fair  chance  of  it.  When 
you  've  got  such  business  on  hand  as  this,  let  brandy 
alone  till  you  've  got  it  done.  The  lieutenant  was 
pardoned  weeks  ago ;  the  papers  wait  for  him  in  Bris 
tol.  He  is  safer  than  we  are  in  England." 

Wallingford  leaped  toward  his  friend  with  a  cry  of 
joy ;  they  were  in  each  other's  arms  like  a  pair  of 
Frenchmen.  As  for  Dickson,  he  sank  to  the  floor  like 
a  melted  candle ;  his  legs  would  not  hold  him  up ;  he 
gathered  strength  enough  to  crawl  toward  Walling 
ford  and  clutch  him  by  the  knees. 

"  Oh,  have  pity  on  my  sick  wife  and  little  family!  " 
he  wailed  aloud  there,  and  blubbered  for  mercy,  till 
the  lieutenant  shook  him  off,  and  he  lay,  still  groan 
ing,  on  the  flagstones. 

The  captain  had  beckoned  to  his  men,  and  they 
were  within  the  room. 

"  Give  me  my  papers,  Dickson,  and  begone,"  he  said  ; 
"  and  you  two  fellows  may  get  you  gone,  too,  with 
your  money.  Stay,  let  me  see  it  first !  "  he  said. 

They  glanced  at  each  other  in  dismay.  They  had 
no  choice  ;  they  had  left  their  pistols  in  their  holsters ; 
the  business  had  seemed  easy,  and  the  house  so  decent. 
They  could  not  tell  what  made  them  so  afraid  of  this 
stern  commander.  The  whole  thing  was  swift  and 
irresistible  ;  they  meekly  did  his  bidding  and  gave  the 
money  up.  It  was  in  a  leather  bag,  and  the  captain 
held  it  with  both  hands  and  looked  gravely  down  at 
Dickson.  The  other  men  stared  at  him,  and  wondered 


THE  ROAD'S  END  399 

what  he  was  going  to  do ;  but  he  only  set  the  bag  on 
the  table,  and  poured  some  of  the  yellow  gold  into  his 
hand. 

"  Look  there,  my  lads  !  "  he  said.  "  There  must 
be  some  infernal  magic  in  the  stuff  that  makes  a  man 
sell  his  soul  for  it.  Look  at  it,  Dickson,  if  you  can  ! 
Mr.  Wallingford,  you  have  suffered  too  much,  I  fear, 
through  this  man's  infamy.  I  have  doubted  you 
myself  by  reason  of  his  deviltries,  and  I  am  heartily 
ashamed  of  it.  Forgive  me  if  you  can,  but  I  shall 
never  forgive  myself. 

"  Put  this  man  out !  "  said  the  captain  loudly,  turn 
ing  to  his  sailors,  and  they  stepped  forward  with  amus 
ing  willingness.  "  Take  him  down  to  the  boat  and 
put  off.  I  shall  join  you  directly.  If  he  jumps  over 
board,  don't  try  to  save  him ;  't  were  the  best  thing 
he  could  do." 

Dickson,  wretched  and  defeated,  was  at  last  made 
to  stand,  and  then  took  his  poor  revenge  ;  he  sent  the 
crumpled  paper  that  was  in  his  hand  flying  into  the 
fire,  and  Paul  Jones  only  laughed  as  he  saw  it  blaze. 
The  game  was  up.  Dickson  had  lost  it,  and  missed 
all  the  fancied  peace  and  prosperity  of  the  future  by 
less  than  a  brief  half  hour.  The  sailors  kicked  him 
before  them  out  of  the  door ;  it  was  not  a  noble  exit 
for  a  man  of  some  natural  gifts,  who  had  undervalued 
the  worth  of  character. 

The  captain  took  up  the  bag  of  gold  and  gave  it 
back  to  the  men.  "  This  is  in  my  power,  but  it  is 
spies'  money,  and  I  don't  want  such !  "  he  said  scorn 
fully.  "  You  may  take  it  to  your  masters,  and  say 
that  Captain  John  Paul  Jones,  of  the  United  States 
frigate  Ranger,  sent  it  back." 

They  gave  each  other  an  astonished  look  as  they 


400  THE  TORY  LOVER 

departed  from  the  room.  "  There  's  a  man  for  my 
money,"  said  one  of  the  men  to  the  other,  when  they 
were  outside.  "  I  'd  ship  with  him  to-night,  and  I  'd 
sail  with  him  round  the  world  and  back  again  !  So 
that 's  Paul  Jones,  the  pirate.  Well,  I  say  here  's  his 
health  and  good  luck  to  him,  Englishman  though  I 
be!"  They  stood  amazed  in  the  dark  outside  with 
their  bag  of  money,  before  they  stole  away.  There 
was  nothing  they  could  do,  even  if  they  had  wished 
him  harm,  and  to-morrow  they  could  brag  that  they 
had  seen  a  hero. 

The  mistress  of  the  inn  had  betaken  herself  to  the 
parlor  to  lay  the  table  for  supper.  Mr.  Alderman 
Davis  had  just  waked,  hearing  a  fresh  noise  in  the 
house,  and  the  lady  was  bidding  him  to  go  and  look  if 
the  captain  were  not  already  come.  But  he  first 
stopped  to  give  some  orders  to  the  landlady. 

The  two  officers  of  the  Ranger  were  now  alone  in 
the  kitchen  ;  they  stood  looking  at  each  other.  Poor 
Wallingford's  face  was  aged  and  worn  by  his  dis 
tresses,  and  the  captain  read  it  like  an  open  book. 

"  I  thank  God  I  have  it  in  my  power  to  make  you 
some  amends  !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  I  believe  that  I  can 
make  you  as  happy  as  you  have  been  miserable.  God 
bless  you,  Wallingford !  Wait  here  for  me  one  mo 
ment,  my  dear  fellow,"  he  said,  with  affection,  and 
disappeared. 

Wallingford,  still  possessed  by  his  astonishment,  sat 
down  on  the  great  settle  by  the  fire.  This  whole  scene 
had  been  like  a  play ;  all  the  dreary  weeks  and  days 
that  had  seemed  so  endless  and  hopeless  had  come  to 
this  sudden  end  with  as  easy  a  conclusion  as  when  the 
sun  comes  out  and  shines  quietly  after  a  long  storm 


THE  ROAD'S   END  401 

that  has  wrecked  the  growing  fields.  He  thought  of 
the  past  weeks  when  he  had  been  but  a  hunted  crea 
ture  on  the  moors  with  his  hurt  comrade,  and  the 
tread  of  their  pursuers  had  more  than  once  jarred  the 
earth  where  their  heads  were  lying.  He  remembered 
the  dull  happiness  of  succeeding  peace  and  safety, 
when  he  had  come  to  be  wagoner  in  the  harvest  time 
for  a  good  old  farmer  by  Taunton,  and  earned  the  lit 
tle  money  and  the  unquestioned  liberty  that  had 
brought  him  on  his  way  to  Chippenham  market  and 
this  happy  freedom.  He  was  free  again,  and  with  his 
captain ;  he  was  a  free  unchallenged  man.  Please 
God,  he  should  some  day  see  home  again  and  those  he 
loved. 

There  was  a  light  footstep  without,  and  the  cheer 
ful  voice  of  an  elderly  man  across  the  passage.  The 
kitchen  door  opened,  and  shut  again,  and  there  was 
a  flutter  of  a  woman's  dress  in  the  room.  The  lieu 
tenant  was  gazing  at  the  fire;  he  was  thinking  of  his 
mother  and  of  Mary.  What  was  the  captain  about 
so  long  in  the  other  room  ? 

There  was  a  cry  that  made, his  heart  stand  still,  that 
made  him  catch  his  breath  as  he  sprang  to  his  feet ;  a 
man  tall  and  masterful,  but  worn  with  hardships  and 
robbed  of  all  his  youth.  There  was  some  one  in  the 
room  with  him,  some  one  looking  at  him  in  tender 
ness  and  pity,  with  the  light  of  heaven  on  her  lovely 
face  ;  grown  older,  too,  and  struck  motionless  with 
the  sudden  fright  of  his  presence.  There  stood  the 
woman  he  loved.  There  stood  Mary  Hamilton  her 
self,  come  to  his  arms  —  Heaven  alone  knew  how  — 
from  the  other  side  of  the  world. 


XLV 

WITH   THE   FLOOD   TIDE 

"  Swift  are  the  currents  setting-  all  one  way." 

No  modern  inventions  of  signals  of  any  kind,  or 
fleet  couriers,  could  rival  in  swiftness  the  old  natural 
methods  of  spreading  a  piece  of  welcome  news  through 
a  New  England  countryside.  Men  called  to  each 
other  from  field  to  field,  and  shouted  to  strangers  out 
ward  bound  on  the  road ;  women  ran  smiling  from 
house  to  house  among  the  Berwick  farms.  It  was 
known  by  mid-morning  of  a  day  late  in  October  that 
Madam  Wallingford's  brig,  the  Golden  Dolphin,  had 
got  into  Portsmouth  lower  harbor  the  night  before. 
Madam  Wallingford  herself  was  on  board  and  well, 
with  her  son  and  Miss  Mary  Hamilton.  They  were 
all  coming  up  the  river  early  that  very  evening,  with 
the  flood  tide. 

The  story  flew  through  the  old  Piscataqua  planta 
tions,  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  that  Major  Langdon 
himself  had  taken  boat  at  once  and  gone  down  to 
Newcastle  to  meet  the  brig,  accompanied  by  many 
friends  who  were  eager  to  welcome  the  home-comers. 
There  were  tales  told  of  a  great  wedding  at  Hamil 
ton's  within  a  month's  time,  though  word  went  with 
these  tales,  of  the  lieutenant's  forced  leave  of  absence, 
some  said  his  discharge,  by  reason  of  his  wounds  and 
broken  health. 


WITH  THE  FLOOD   TIDE  403 

Roger  Wallingford  was  bringing  dispatches  to 
Congress  from  the  Commissioners  in  France.  It  was 
3,11  a  mistake  that  he  had  tried  to  betray  his  ship,  and 
now  there  could  be  no  one  found  who  had  ever  really 
believed  such  a  story,  or  even  thought  well  of  others 
who  were  so  foolish  as  to  repeat  it.  They  all  knew 
that  it  was  Dickson  who  was  openly  disgraced,  in 
stead,  and  had  now  escaped  from  justice,  and  those 
who  had  once  inclined  to  excuse  him  and  to  admire 
his  shrewdness  willingly  consented  to  applaud  such  a 
long-expected  downfall. 

The  evening  shadows  had  begun  to  gather  at  the 
day's  end,  when  they  saw  the  boat  come  past  the  high 
pines  into  the  river  bay  below  Hamilton's.  The  great 
house  was  ready  and  waiting ;  the  light  of  the  western 
sky  shone  upon  its  walls,  and  a  cheerful  warmth  and 
brightness  shone  everywhere  within.  There  was  a 
feast  made  ready  that  might  befit  the  wedding  itself, 
and  eager  hands  were  waiting  to  serve  it.  On  the 
terrace  by  the  southern  door  stood  Colonel  Hamilton, 
who  was  now  at  home  from  the  army,  and  had  rid 
den  in  haste  from  Portsmouth  that  day,  at  noon,  to 
see  that  everything  was  ready  for  his  sister's  coming. 
There  were  others  with  him,  watching  for  the  boat : 
the  minister  all  in  silver  and  black,  Major  Haggens, 
with  his  red  cloak  and  joyful  countenance,  the  good 
old  judge,  and  Master  Sullivan,  with  his  stately  white 
head. 

Within  the  house  were  many  ladies,  old  and  young. 
Miss  Nancy  Haggens  had  braved  the  evening  air  for 
friendship's  sake,  and  sat  at  a  riverward  window  with 
other  turbaned  heads  of  the  Berwick  houses,  to  wait 
for  Madam  Wallingford.  There  was  a  pretty  flock 
of  Mary  Hamilton's  friends :  Miss  Betsey  Wyat  and 


404  THE  TORY  LOVER 

the  Lords  of  the  Upper  Landing,  Lymans  and  Say- 
wards  of  old  York,  and  even  the  pretty  Blunts  from 
Newcastle,  who  were  guests  at  the  parsonage  near  by. 
It  was  many  a  month  since  there  had  been  anything 
so  gay  and  happy  as  this  night  of  Mary's  coming 
home. 

Major  Langdon's  great  pleasure  boat,  with  its  six 
oarsmen,  was  moving  steadily  on  the  flood,  and  yet 
both  current  and  tide  seemed  hindering  to  such  impa 
tient  hearts.  All  the  way  from  Portsmouth  there 
had  been  people  standing  on  the  shores  to  wave  at 
them  and  welcome  them  as  they  passed  ;  the  light  was 
fast  fading  in  the  sky;  the  evening  chill  and  thin 
autumn  fog  began  to  fall  on  the  river.  At  last  Eoger 
and  Mary  could  see  the  great  house  standing  high 
and  safe  in  its  place,  and  point  it  out  to  Madam  Wal- 
lingford,  whose  face  wore  a  touching  look  of  gratitude 
and  peace ;  at  last  they  could  see  a  crowd  of  people 
on  the  lower  shore. 

The  rowers  did  their  best ;  the  boat  sped  through 
the  water.  It  was  only  half  dark,  but  some  impatient 
hand  had  lit  the  bonfires ;  the  company  of  gentlemen 
were  coming  down  already  through  the  terraced  gar 
den  to  the  water-side. 

"  Oh,  Mary,  Mary,"  Roger  Wallingford  was  whis 
pering,  "  I  have  done  nothing  that  I  hoped  to  do  !  " 
But  she  hushed  him,  and  her  hand  stole  into  his. 
"  We  did  not  think,  that  night  when  we  parted,  we 
should  be  coming  home  together  ;  we  did  not  know 
what  lay  before  us,"  he  said  with  sorrow.  "No,  dear, 
I  have  done  nothing ;  but,  thank  God,  I  am  alive  to 
love  you,  and  to  serve  my  country  to  my  life's  end." 

Mary  could  not  speak ;  she  was  too  happy  and  too 


WITH  THE  FLOOD   TIDE  405 

thankful.  All  her  own  great  love  and  perfect  happi 
ness  were  shining  in  her  face. 

"  I  am  thinking  of  the  captain,"  she  said  gently, 
after  a  little  silence.  "You  know  how  he  left  us 
when  we  were  so  happy,  and  slipped  away  alone  into 
the  dark  without  a  word.  .  .  . 

"  Oh,  look,  Madam !  "  she  cried  then.  "  Our 
friends  are  all  there  ;  they  are  all  waiting  for  us  !  I 
can  see  dear  Peggy  with  her  white  apron,  and  your 
good  Kodney ! "  Oh,  Roger,  the  dear  old  master  is 
there,  God  bless  him !  They  are  all  well  and  alive. 
Thank  God,  we  are  at  home  !  " 

They  rose  and  stood  together  in  the  boat,  hand  in 
hand.  In  another  moment  the  boat  was  at  the  land 
ing  place,  and  they  had  stepped  ashore. 


Electrotyped  and  printed  by  If.  O.  Houghton  &  Co. 
Cambridge,  Mass.,  U.S.A. 


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